Le Mans Falls to Galatasaray in Basketball Champions League – BCL Update 2026

Galatasaray MCT Technic secured a crucial road victory against Le Mans Sarthe Basket, 94-81, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in a Round of 16 matchup of the Basketball Champions League. The win, fueled by a dominant fourth quarter, moved Galatasaray into a tie for first place in Group I with Le Mans, though the Turkish side holds the tiebreaker advantage due to point differential.

Neck to Elbow for Almost Forty Minutes

The game was a tightly contested affair for nearly forty minutes, a stark contrast to the first leg where Galatasaray dominated the second half. Le Mans, hoping to secure their fourth win and practically guarantee advancement to the next round, matched Galatasaray blow for blow in the early stages. The Sarthois briefly took the lead in the first quarter, fueled by an 8-0 run, establishing a 24-18 advantage. David DiLeo and Trevor Hudgins provided offensive sparks for Le Mans, but Galatasaray’s Bugrahan Tuncer responded with 18 points in the second quarter alone, keeping the game close.

Despite defensive adjustments called for by Le Mans coach Guillaume Vizade, the team conceded 32 points in the second quarter, entering halftime trailing 50-48. The third quarter continued the back-and-forth nature of the game, with eight lead changes. Le Mans leveraged offensive rebounds and the energy of a vocal home crowd of around 3,800 spectators, reminiscent of their recent win against Rytas Vilnius, to stay within striking distance, entering the final ten minutes down by just one point, 69-68.

However, the fourth quarter proved decisive. Galatasaray unleashed a furious offensive surge, outscoring Le Mans 26-12. James Palmer initially answered DiLeo’s scoring with a three-pointer, but Galatasaray quickly regained control. Erick McCollum’s clutch shooting, including a three-pointer that extended the lead, proved pivotal. Freddie Gillespie sealed the victory with a strong post move and a subsequent free throw, pushing the Galatasaray lead to double digits. Galatasaray closed the game on a 14-2 run, culminating in a final score of 94-81.

Bugrahan Tuncer led Galatasaray with 22 points, followed by Erick McCollum with 19 and James Palmer Jr. With 15. For Le Mans, David DiLeo scored 18 points, Johnny Berhanemeskel added 15, and Trevor Hudgins contributed 10.

Le Mans will now face a challenging road game against Rytas in Lithuania on March 11, following the Leaders Cup and international break, as they attempt to regain their footing in the group. Galatasaray will host Hapoel Holon, who have been eliminated from contention.

The Reaction

Guillaume Vizade, MSB coach: “Galatasaray had a big match. Their effectiveness is enormous this evening. It’s hard to win against a team in these conditions. We made too many defensive errors. In the first half, on one-on-one situations, in the second half on transition defense, on defensive rebounds. We made mistakes and paid the price. Emotions came into play. I think the score is a little harsh but that’s the reality.”

Vizade added, “It’s a shame because if we couldn’t play for victory, we could perhaps have played for goal average until the end.”