Bayern Munich Basketball Secures a Thrilling Home Victory Over ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne

In a captivating EuroLeague clash at the SAP Garden, FC Bayern Basketball delivered a resilient second-half performance to defeat French side LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne 93-83. Despite trailing at halftime, Svetislav Pesic’s squad utilized a dominant fourth quarter to snap a three-game losing streak and secure their 14th win of the EuroLeague season in front of nearly 9,000 cheering fans.

The match, held on March 26, 2026, began with both teams struggling to find their rhythm from beyond the arc. Bayern initially took a 12-6 lead thanks to the interior presence of center McCormack, but ASVEL's physical defense and efficient fastbreaks kept the game tight, ending the first quarter with a narrow 19-18 lead for the hosts. The momentum shifted in the second period as the French side, led by former Würzburg player Zac Seljaas and veteran playmaker Thomas Heurtel, exploited gaps in Munich’s defense. By the break, Bayern found themselves trailing 39-42, with their outside shooting yet to ignite.

The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth scoring battle. Andreas Obst and Justus Hollatz provided a spark for the German champions, but ASVEL responded with timely triples to maintain pressure. However, the tide finally turned when captain Vladimir Lucic hit a crucial three-pointer to make it 72-66 early in the fourth quarter. This shot served as a catalyst for a decisive 15-5 run in the "crunch time." Justinian Jessup, playing his debut EuroLeague season, was the standout performer of the night. Jessup recorded a career-high 19 points, showcasing exceptional efficiency and energy that ultimately broke the resistance of the French visitors.

While the 93-83 victory was a morale-boosting performance, it carries a bittersweet tone for Bayern’s European campaign. Following a narrow defeat in Kaunas earlier in the week, Bayern is mathematically out of contention for the EuroLeague postseason. Despite this, the team demonstrated great character to secure a win in their penultimate home game of the European season.

Individually, Justinian Jessup led the scoring with 19 points, supported by Andreas Obst’s 15 points. For ASVEL, Amel Traore was the top scorer with 16 points. Noteworthy was also the return of Dimitrijevic to the squad, although he remained on the bench to prepare for upcoming domestic challenges.

Looking ahead, FC Bayern Basketball remains the leader in the German BBL standings. They will travel to face the Veolia Towers Hamburg this Sunday, March 29, aiming to extend their domestic dominance. Their next EuroLeague fixture is a highly anticipated home game against Fenerbahce Istanbul on April 1st, which is already announced as a sell-out at the SAP Garden.