Saturday

Patriots             84-78         IPRC-South

30-Plus              56-102       UGB

Women

APR                    50-46         IPRC-South

Didier Ishimwe scored a game high 22 points and Walter Nkurunziza added 19 points as national basketball league title holders Patriots beat reigning playoffs champions IPRC-South 84-78 in overtime on Saturday to finish the first round on top of the table.

Playing in-front of a half full Amahoro indoor stadium, both sides tied 68-68 in regular time and they had to be sent into a 5-minute overtime that Patriots won 16-10 to claim the crucial win.

Henry Mwinuke’s Patriots snatched the first quarter 23-22 and the second 20-18 before IPRC-South took the third quarter 18-14 to go into the final quarter leading 58-57.

But the defending champions fought back to claim the fourth quarter 11-10 to force play into overtime but Patriots was in a better form to carry the day. Sunny Niyomugabo was IPRC-South’s top scorer with 17 points.

In another game, United Generation Basketball Club (UGB) demolished struggling 30-Plus in a 102-56 massive victory to record their third league win of the season. Patriots lead the table with 17 points; level with debutants Rwanda Energy Group (REG) but the former have a better score average. Espoir, APR and IPRC-South are third, fourth and fifth respectively, with 15 points each.

In the women’s league, APR defeated IPRC-South 50-46 to stay top of the table standings with maximum 6 points and a 3:0 win ratio.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw