The Monegasques finished the first leg on a good note, after two consecutive defeats in the Elite championship in Strasbourg (99-90) and on the Rock against Limoges (83-73).

Powered by a dream second quarter (24-7) and an excellent address, the ASM broke away as the break approached, before taking off in the second half.

The leader of the Roca Team, Paris Lee (24 pts, 6 assists), was the master of playing his own, taking over from a Mike James (3 pts to 1/4 but 7 assists) still on alternating current.

The Fosseans took advantage of their opponents' only weak time to climb to 25-22 on the return from the first quarter, but they ended up succumbing to the defense of Sasa Obradovic's men.

Monaco provisionally goes back to third place thanks to this success.

Fos-sur-Mer (14th) remains within reach of the relegation zone.

This last day of the year was also marked by the postponement of the match between Boulogne-Levallois (1st) at Portel (17th) due to cases of Covid in the ranks of Ile-de-France.

© 2021 AFP