Kokila and Agee combine for 37 points as Bourg executes game plan to perfection
Bourg dominates inside to outlast Lietkabelis, clinches postseason berth
Game Report
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 13 of 18
Regular Season
group b
Lietkabelis PanevezysLIE
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Cosea JL Bourg-en-BresseJLB
group b
Overview
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Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse executed its game plan to perfection, using size and physicality to beat Lietkabelis Panevezys 73–86 at Kalnapilio Arena on Wednesday. The win lifted Bourg to 11–2 in Group B and by the end of the evening, it also meant that Bourg became the first team to clinch a spot in the postseason. Bourg now has a two-game cushion over second-place Besiktas GAIN Istanbul - and a six-win lead over seventh-place London Lions - with five games left in the round-robin phase.
From the start, Bourg imposed its will in the paint. A 0–10 run capped by 6 points from Kevin Kokila gave the visitors a 12–22 lead they never relinquished. Kokila was unstoppable early, scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbing 4 rebounds by halftime.
“Physicality was the key,” Kokila said. “It is important to start the new year with a win in the EuroCup. We have to continue because the season is long.”
TaJuan Agee provided a big boost off the bench, playing both center and power forward. At the break, he had 7 points and 3 rebounds, and he kept delivering after halftime. Agee finished with 19 points, Kokila added 18, and together they combined to make 12-of-17 two-pointers and 13-of-14 free throws.
Lietkabelis fought back to within 58–60 early in the fourth quarter, but Bourg found its X-factor: Assemian Moulare, scoreless until then, erupted for 9 points in the final 6 minutes as Bourg built a decisive 66–81 margin. Bourg also caught fire from deep, hitting 4-of-8 triples in the fourth after going 2-of-16 through three quarters.
Coach Frederic Fauthoux praised his team’s execution: “It was a very good victory, because it’s never easy to win here. We played to our strengths, with great energy and intensity. We played very good defense tonight, and a lot of times we secured our rebounds, and that was the key.”
Rebounding was indeed crucial. Lietkabelis had dominated the boards in its last two EuroCup games, but Bourg matched its physicality, grabbing 35 rebounds and winning key stretches, outrebounding Lietkabelis 4-8 in the first quarter and 7-11 in the fourth. Bourg also excelled in efficiency: 23-of-37 two-pointers (62.2%), 22-of-24 free throws (91.7%), 18 assists, and just 6 turnovers. Darius McGhee scored only the first basket of the game, but contributed 4 rebounds and 5 assists with zero turnovers.
Despite 15 offensive rebounds, Lietkabelis struggled inside, making just 16-of-42 two-pointers (38.1%). Bourg now turns its attention to a pivotal showdown against Besiktas on January 14.
