Rivers Hoopers of Nigeria produced a stunning fourth-quarter turnaround to secure a 79-71 victory over Morocco’s FUS Rabat in a fiercely contested Basketball Africa League (BAL) showdown at the Salle Moulay Arena.
The game was a back-and-forth affair for the first three quarters. FUS Rabat edged the second quarter 17-11 to take a slim 36-31 lead into halftime. They stretched their advantage to 58-53 by the end of the third, but it all unraveled in the final 10 minutes. Rivers Hoopers dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Moroccan side 26-13 to complete the comeback and close out the game.
South Sudanese forward Myles Akec led the Hoopers with a standout performance, contributing 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. He was ably supported by Nigerian guard Keith Amayo, who tallied 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in a complete two-way display.
Reggie Putney added another 14 points and 5 rebounds, while the physical presence of Precious Olisemeka inside the paint was crucial — he posted a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
For FUS Rabat, Mory Fofana and Yassine Baeri led the offensive charge, scoring 14 and 13 points respectively. Fofana’s efficient shooting kept Rabat ahead for most of the game, while Baeri contributed across the board with 4 assists and 2 rebounds.
However, the hosts struggled with efficiency, shooting just 37.3% from the field compared to Rivers Hoopers’ 42.5%. Poor free-throw shooting further hurt FUS Rabat, as they converted only 52.6% of their attempts from the line.
Rivers Hoopers’ dominance in the paint, where they converted nearly half (49.1%) of their two-point attempts, proved decisive in the end.
The result improves Rivers Hoopers’ chances in the tournament as they demonstrated grit and composure in the face of adversity. Meanwhile, FUS Rabat will be left to rue a missed opportunity after failing to capitalize on their early momentum.
