AP Sports Preview

TARBES, France (Interstat) — UTLPB hosts Levallois on Sunday in a pivotal French NM1 matchup at Tarbes, with both teams jockeying for postseason positioning.

UTLPB (28-16) enters with momentum, having won five consecutive games. Levallois (26-16) looks to snap a two-game losing streak, including a 73-65 loss at UTLPB on Friday.

The home team has dominated recent head-to-head meetings, winning three of the last four. UTLPB prevailed 75-70 at home on Feb. 20, while Levallois earned a 75-72 win on Nov. 21.

Forward Tautvydas Baltrusaitis has been UTLPB’s catalyst, posting 17 points and six rebounds in Friday’s win over Levallois. The small forward has scored in double figures in two of his last three games, including 19 points against Orchies on May 5.

Levallois center Lionel Colson is the visiting team’s primary threat. Colson recorded 12 points and nine rebounds Friday against UTLPB. He has been consistent recently, with 13 points and six rebounds in a win at Loon Plage on May 8, and 14 points and five rebounds against Le Havre on April 26.

Levallois has struggled on the road, dropping four of its last five away games. The team’s only road win during that stretch came at Loon Plage.

UTLPB, conversely, has been strong at home, winning four of its last five in Tarbes.

Tipoff is scheduled for Sunday evening.