London Lions knocked out of EuroCup by Paris at Copper Box Arena

London Lions’ dreams of becoming the first English men’s team to reach basketball’s EuroCup final are over after a 93-85 defeat by Paris at a sold-out Copper Box Arena.

Paris have won the first two legs of the best-of-three tie, having won 99-86 at home on Tuesday.

The British champions led 45-39 at half-time but in the end the French side proved too strong.

Paris will play fellow French side Bourg or Turks Besiktas in the final.

Lions’ Matthew Morgan was the game’s top scorer with 25 points, ahead of Paris’ TJ Shorts’ 21.

A Lions win would have forced a decider in Paris on Tuesday.

“I’m not just proud, I’m happy and honoured to be part of the group,” said London boss Petar Bozic.

“It was an amazing season in the EuroCup, we accomplished some historic things for British basketball.”

The British champions trailed by two points at the end of the first quarter but were six points up at half-time.

They fell behind during the third period, although they pegged it back to 66-64 at the final break before Paris got the job done in the final quarter.

The EuroCup is Europe’s second-tier basketball competition after the EuroLeague.

London Lions’ women’s team face Besiktas in a two-legged EuroCup final, beginning away in Istanbul on Wednesday. They are the first British side to reach a European basketball final.