Thursday 

Dynamo 64-73 Patriots  

PATRIOTS have started their quest for a ticket to the 2020 Basketball Africa League (BAL) with victory after beating Burundian champions Dynamo on Thursday.

The two sides make Group D of the BAL Qualifiers, along with three more teams. The qualifiers tournament started Wednesday and runs through Sunday at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

In a game that lasted nearly for four hours due to heavy rains and power cuts, Patriots were able to prevail with a 73-64 victory after setting the pace with a 22-16 first quarter.

Small forward Dieudonne Ndizeye led Patriots with 15 points, with American import George Wilbert Blakeney and Steven Hagumintwari contributing 10 points each.

Dynamo's shooting guard Jean Hakizimana scored a game-high 24 points but his one-man effort proved not enough to save his side from a second defeat in the tournament after losing their opener 71-57 to Uganda’s City Oilers on Wednesday. 

After their opening game, Patriots will be back to action on Friday against Hawassa of Ethiopia before facing home side JKT on Saturday.

The Rwandan champions will wrap up their campaign against City Oilers on Sunday. 

editor@newtimesrwanda.com