LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne pulled off one of the most dramatic wins of the season on Tuesday night, beating Anadolu Efes Istanbul 103-99 in double overtime at the LDLC Arena after a career night from Bastien Vautier.
The 27-year-old center delivered a performance few could have predicted, scoring a game-high 28 points in just 26 minutes to lift ASVEL to a statement victory in Round 18 of the EuroLeague.
Vautier entered the night averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds while playing less than 13 minutes per game, having reached double figures just once all season. Against Efes he turned the domestic battle on its head with ruthless efficiency and poise under pressure.
He finished 10 of 13 on two-point attempts, added four rebounds and repeatedly punished mismatches as the game tightened late. The game never had a double-digit lead, although ASVEL trailed by as many as nine points several times in the third quarter.
The turning point came in the first overtime, where Vautier wrote a play that defined the night. He assisted Mbaye Ndiaye on an alley-oop before scoring 10 consecutive ASVEL points, including two free throws with 9.9 seconds left to force a second overtime at 92–92.
The second extra period belonged to Thomas Heurtel, who delivered the basket in time to maintain ASVEL’s small lead. Facing his former club, the 36-year-old guard finished with 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds in one of his most complete performances since returning to the EuroLeague.
ASVEL’s collective effort matched the star turns. Mbaye Ndiaye added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Glyn Watson contributed 18 points as the hosts leaned on depth and composure well into the night.
After the final buzzer, the emotion in the LDLC Arena reflected how important the result felt for a team still fighting uphill in the standings.
For Efes the loss was costly after controlling large stretches and receiving a balanced score. Rodrigue Beaubois and Isaia Cordinier each scored 20 points, while Vincent Poirier added 17 points and eight rebounds in a strong interior.
Despite shooting 40 percent from three-point range, the Turkish team was unable to close out either overtime period as ASVEL repeatedly responded to each wave.
The win took ASVEL to 5–13 overall and 5–3 at home, offering hope after a difficult start to the campaign. Anadolu Efes fell to 6-12 and now faces renewed pressure in the second half of the season.
ASVEL host Paris Basketball next Tuesday, while Efes returns home on Friday to take on Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.
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