Basketball in Africa

UCU Canons 63-58 Kyambogo Warriors
Unlike the post seasons when UCU Canons tend to stretch Kyambogo Warriors to the limits, regular season match-ups seemed easy for Warriors until Friday night. Even when Canons come out strong that Warriors don’t sustain big leads to put away games somehow the university side comes short.

With the addition of Syrus Kiviri to their back court and Ivan Lumanyika on the front court, Canons looked the better team on paper and so it was on the floor breaking their regular season jinx against Warriors with a 63-58 win over last year’s champions Friday night inside the MTN Arena. Suudi ulanga scored game high 20 points to lead Canons (2-0) to the rare regular season win against Warriors. Desmond Owili added 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds.

UCU leading 50-43 going into the fourth quarter, Warriors (1-1) responded with a 9-0 run to start the final period and took a 52-50 lead with 7:14 but a tip-in from Owili and a mid-range fade away jumper from Ulanga took UCU back into the lead. Warriors called for a time out with 4 minutes on the clock and on return, Ulanga increased UCU’s advantage to 56-54 but a pair of lay-ups from Andrew Okot (9 points) tied the game at 56. Ulanga hit a trey then four free throws from Ivan Lumanyika, Kiviri and a pair from the game leader sealed it for the Canons before Warriors’ center, Sam Gombya closed the scoring for the night.

Canons went unpunished for playing with slippery hands. The university side committed an unfathomable 40 turnovers but made up by out-rebounding Warriors 59-36. Ronnie Kasewu led Warriors with 13 points while point guard Ivan Enabu contributed 8 points and swiped 11 steals for Kyambogo who were without centers Henry Malinga and Micheal Kariuki as well as forward, Norman Blick who reportedly will join Dmark Power.

Meanwhile, center, Peace Proscovia poured in 43 points and picked 24 rebounds to power UCU Lady Canons to a 101-31 blowout of MUK Sparks. Fowrad, Purity Adhiambo added 23 points and 16 rebounds for Lady Canons (2-0). Joy Chemtai led Sparks (1-1) with 13 points and 8 rebounds.