CHOLET, France (Interstat) — Cholet U21 will seek a 3-0 start Saturday when it hosts Pau-Orthez U21 in a U21 basketball matchup.

Cholet enters with a 2-0 record after wins over Lyon-Villeurbanne U21 and at Nancy U21. In its most recent game, Cholet defeated Nancy 77-61. Amadou Fall, the player to watch for Cholet, scored 17 points with four rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes. Luca Rapini added eight points, nine rebounds, one assist and one block in 29 minutes, while Tom Kasongo had 15 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes. In the earlier win, Cholet beat Lyon-Villeurbanne 97-68. Fall posted 10 points, three rebounds and five assists in 21 minutes in that game.

Pau-Orthez U21 is 1-1. The visiting team opened the season with a 93-91 win at Nanterre U21. Yanis Marcillac Lacroix, the player to watch for Pau-Orthez, had 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes in that victory. In Pau-Orthez’s most recent game, Dijon U21 won 95-56. Marcillac Lacroix finished with four points, five rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. Clement More recorded 11 points, two rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes, and Loric Imbert added 11 points, one rebound and one assist in 24 minutes.

Cholet’s home game follows a road win at Nancy U21. The team also defeated Lyon-Villeurbanne U21 at home. Pau-Orthez’s win came on the road at Nanterre U21 before the home loss to Dijon U21. Fall has totaled 27 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in two games. Marcillac Lacroix has totaled 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in two games. More and Imbert each scored 11 points in Pau-Orthez’s most recent game.

After Saturday, Pau-Orthez U21 will host Saint Quentin U21 and Limoges U21, then visit Le Mans U21 and Lyon-Villeurbanne U21. Cholet U21 will host Chalon/Saone U21, then visit Nanterre U21 and Strasbourg U21. Additional games follow against Dijon U21, Saint Quentin U21, Boulazac U21, Paris U21, Limoges U21, JL Bourg U21 and Gravelines-Dunkerque U21 for Cholet, while Pau-Orthez also has meetings with Strasbourg U21, Nancy U21, Boulazac U21, Paris U21, Roanne U21 and Chalon/Saone U21 ahead.

A projection model favors Cholet U21 at home. The hosts carry a modest point spread and an over-under shaped by their early scoring pace. Pau-Orthez’s best path rests with limiting turnovers and getting Marcillac Lacroix, More and Imbert involved early.