Monday, September 9
Group C
Rwanda 86-69 Zambia
Center Ivan Mugabo put in a man of the match display as his Rwandan side beat Zambia 86-69 on Monday night to bring their three-game unbeaten run in the ongoing FIBA Africa U18 AfroBasket to an end.
With the win at University of Pretoria gymnasium, Rwanda advanced to the quarterfinals with a perfect 3-0.
Mugabo, 17, came off the bench to lead his country with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Dylan Kayijuka dropped 19, while Sean Mwesigwa scored 15 points.
Zambia's Brighton Wakunguma led the scoring with 19 points, while Frank Siame (11) and Chomba Mulenga (10) also scored in double figures.
Mwesigwa gave his country a 12-8 lead after landing a big three. Ramesha would hit another three with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Zambia also kept themselves in the contest (18-15) with a bucket from Kelvin Mulenga and free throws from Brighton Kalizi, but Rwanda would pull away with another Mwesigwa triple. The slick dribbling Kayijuka would weave his way into the opposition's paint to finish with a neat reverse layup to close the quarter 23-15.
Wakunguma's two threes would bring Zambia back into the clash, while a Lizeko free throw tied the game 26-26 four minutes into the second quarter.
The difference between the two teams was minimal - Zambia scored 10 points from Turner's overs to Rwanda's nine.
The Southern Africans also led in fast break points 13-2, while Rwanda dominated the second points chart 17-4.
Paul Mwale's men also had a slight upper hand with points in the paint 20-18, and his bench also stepped up with a contribution of 12 points to the six of Rwanda.
Zambia also had a single-digit lead of 42-41 at the end of the first half. Sharpshooter Mwesigwa was at the time leading all scorers with 13. His teammate Kayijuka followed with 12.
Rwanda went on a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter, with Ivan Mugabo scoring a three and a floater in the paint. Hilar Irakunda would complete a three-point play, while Mwesigwa scored from a fast break for the East African nation 51-42.
With two minutes to go, Rwanda had stretched their lead to 16 (66-50), but free throws from Zambia's Siame reduced the lead. The fast-moving training that is Rwanda steamrolled to a 70-55 lead going into the fourth.
Zambia would regain a bit of momentum with big man Elijah Hantete dropping a bucket and Mulenga's up-and-under layup cutting the lead to 13 (74-61). A time-out call from Yves Murenzi would kill Zambia's momentum and give the Rwandans back the initiative with Christian Iranzi and Mugabo getting quick buckets.
Zambia's second-half struggles were their undoing, they also found an inspired Rwanda that fired on all cylinders to finish top of Group C.