Rivers Hoopers bounced back from defeat in their opening game with a 76-75 win over SLAC of Guinea on day 2 of the FIBA Africa Basketball League Group A games in Sale, Morocco on Saturday.
Abdul Yahaya had a team high 19 points and eight rebounds, Precious Osigbodi got off the bench to score 15 points and seven rebounds, Emmanuel Balogun had 15 points while Victor Anthony Koko made 13 rebounds and nine points, one short of a double-double.
Osigbodi shot all his four 3-pointers in the game and made 4/5 from the free throw line in 26 minutes of play.
Rivers Hoopers took a six-point lead going to the break 44-38, returned for the third quarter and were outscored by SLAC 20-15.
The Nigerian representatives overcame a nervy last 60 seconds of the game to clinch their first win at the FIBA Africa Basketball League.
With 30 seconds remaining, Balogun shot 2/2 from the line to draw the score level at 75-75 and was later increased to a point lead by Solomon Ajegbeyi’s 1 /2 free throw with 7 seconds remaining on the clock. SLAC failed to capitalise on the team defensive rebound with Dane Miller missing the jump shot which would have snatched a victory for the Guineans.
Shaquille Mc Farlan scored a game high 24 points and four assists, Malick Kone had 12 points and six rebounds while Bachir Bella added 10 points and seven rebounds for SLAC.
Rivers Hoopers will play their last group game on Sunday against JS Kairouan of Tunisia for a place in the Elite 8 of the FIBA Africa Basketball League.
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