Manchester Basketball fell 79-72 to Elan Chalon in the FIBA EuroCup.

Keon Thompson Jr led the team with 18 points on 8-17 shooting, and Luke Nelson added 16, going 3-6 from three. Jordan Johnson ran the show off the bench with 10 points and a team-high 4 assists.

A tight, back-and-forth contest from the opening tip, with both sides tied up 16-16 after the first quarter, followed by Elan’s four-point edge in the second to make it 32-28 by half time. MCR responded by winning the third quarter 22-20, cutting the gap to just two points at 52-50 heading into the fourth. The teams traded the lead throughout, with 10 lead changes and 9 ties on the night, and Manchester’s own spell in front kept the pressure on Elan all the way through.

The fourth quarter had the two sides tied at 68-68 with just over three minutes to play, and it stayed a genuine contest from there, but a late three-pointer from Jeremiah Hill, put Elan back in control, and a late Keon Thompson layup was the closest Manchester could get as the clock ran out. The game was intensely fought throughout yet the difference in the end came at the free-throw line, Manchester shot just 56.5% from the stripe, while Elan converted at 70.4%. The game ended 79 -72 to the hosts.

MCR return to the National Basketball Performance Centre Friday at 7:30 pm to host Cheshire Phoenix, tickets are available here.