EUROCHALLENGE

John Linehan and SLUC Nancy slumped to n opening night defeat in the French top flight Pro A

SLUC Nancy slumped to a 68-56 defeat at Le Mans in their first French league game on Monday evening.

The EuroChallenge outfit lost the initiative in the second quarter when Le Mans outscored them 20-12 for a 37-29 lead at half-time and the hosts pulled away in the second half

Hervé Toure had 14 points in defeat for Nancy, who were outrebounded 36-29.

Brazil international center Joao Paulo Batista had 18 points for the winners.

Nancy were the only French team in the EuroChallenge to lose their domestic opener, with Dijon, Gravelines-Dunkerque and Paris-Levallois each winning the clashes at the weekend.

Coach Jean-Luc Monschau, meanwhile, has concerns about Jamal Shuler, the club's 26-year-old wing who played just six minutes before slipping and hurting his knee.

After the contest, Monschau told the French press he feared the player could be lost for several months but the club has yet to make an announcement about his fitness.