Roca Team saw their short-handed squad finally run out of steam on Saturday, March 14, falling 94–86 to Nancy at the Salle Gaston Médecin after a spirited but ultimately exhausting performance.

Already dealing with a demanding week that included a French Cup qualification and a major EuroLeague victory over Olympiacos, Monaco entered the Betclic Elite clash severely undermanned. Mike James, Elie Okobo and Nikola Mirotic were all sidelined with injuries, while Matthew Strazel was rested, leaving the team with just seven professional players available.

Despite the limitations, Monaco started brightly. Daniel Theis quickly imposed himself inside the paint, while Jaron Blossomgame added energy and scoring early on as the Roca Team raced to an early lead. Nancy struggled to find rhythm in the opening minutes as Monaco dominated the boards and controlled the tempo.

But the visitors gradually settled into the game. Led by Landers Nolley II and Shevon Thompson, Nancy began chipping away at the deficit before finally pulling level late in the second quarter. As Monaco’s short rotation began to show signs of fatigue, Nancy seized the momentum and surged into halftime with a double-digit lead.

The third quarter saw the visitors briefly take full control, extending their advantage beyond twenty points at one stage. Yet the Roca Team refused to fold. Juhann Begarin injected fresh intensity on both ends of the floor, while young prospect Kyllian Michee sparked the home crowd with confident shooting from distance as Monaco clawed its way back into contention.

The final quarter turned into a dramatic comeback attempt. Monaco gradually erased the deficit, and a clutch three-pointer from Nemanja Nedovic briefly pushed the hosts back into the lead with just minutes remaining. The Gaston Médecin arena erupted as the Roca Team appeared poised to complete an improbable turnaround.

However, Nancy responded at the decisive moment. A crucial three-pointer from Clément Goudou-Sinha halted Monaco’s momentum, and the visitors remained composed down the stretch to secure the victory.

For Monaco, the defeat was frustrating but understandable given the circumstances. After an emotionally and physically demanding week and with a heavily depleted roster, the Roca Team still managed to push the game to the wire.

Attention now turns to recovering key players and stabilizing the squad as Monaco prepares for the next stretch of its season.