LE MANS (Interstat) — Le Mans U21 will put its unbeaten start on the line Saturday when it hosts Pau-Orthez U21 in a matchup of teams moving in opposite directions. Le Mans U21 is 5-0 this season, while Pau-Orthez U21 is 2-3.

Le Mans U21 enters after a 96-47 victory at Boulazac U21 in its most recent game. Sami Bame, the team’s player to watch, had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists in that win. Marley Sar added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Afeny Cognet finished with 12 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Bame has been productive throughout the early season, including a 22-point, seven-rebound, two-assist effort against JL Bourg U21 and a 19-point, 14-rebound, three-assist, one-block performance against Paris U21. Le Mans U21 also has wins over Saint Quentin U21, Gravelines-Dunkerque U21 and JL Bourg U21. Le Mans U21 beat JL Bourg U21 80-60 after a 94-62 win at Saint Quentin U21 and a 93-79 home victory over Paris U21. Le Mans U21 opened its season with an 81-72 win at Gravelines-Dunkerque U21.

Pau-Orthez U21 will look to rebound from an 81-79 home loss to Limoges U21 in its most recent game. Clement More led Pau-Orthez U21 with 25 points, two rebounds and eight assists in the loss, while Heyrold Engoute added 19 points, seven rebounds and one assist. Loric Imbert contributed 11 points and five assists. Engoute, the player to watch for Pau-Orthez U21, has scored in double figures in three of his past four games and had 15 points and 10 rebounds against Saint Quentin U21. Engoute also had 11 points and four rebounds at Cholet U21. Pau-Orthez U21 has also defeated Nanterre U21 and Saint Quentin U21 this season, with losses to Cholet U21 and Dijon U21. Pau-Orthez U21 beat Saint Quentin U21 96-73 and won 93-91 at Nanterre U21. Pau-Orthez U21 lost 106-72 at Cholet U21 and 95-56 to Dijon U21.

The visiting side will need a strong performance from Engoute and More to keep pace with a Le Mans U21 team that has opened the season with five consecutive wins. Le Mans U21 will aim to remain perfect before continuing its schedule, while Pau-Orthez U21 seeks to even its record and build momentum on the road. After Saturday, Le Mans U21 is scheduled to visit Strasbourg U21, and Pau-Orthez U21 is set to visit Lyon-Villeurbanne U21. Both teams are scheduled to continue league play after Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of Le Mans U21 94, Pau-Orthez U21 82.