Basketball league

Rusizi  61 - APR 91
Espoir 64 - Marine 80
UNR    69 - UGB 53
KIE     54 - CSK 58

Marine overturned a six-point halftime deficit to beat Espoir in one of four league matches played on Sunday.

Elibo Muhire scored a game high 30 points and 12 rebounds while Kadfi Sinarinzi weighed in 22 points for the 2007 champions, who recorded their second league victory in as many games.

"They kind of overwhelmed us with their energy in the first half,” Marine’s new captain and former APR point guard Aboubacar Barame said in a post match interview.
"We wanted to come out (after half-time) and do the same and we are glad that we did just that.”

Alistede Mugabe top scored for Espoir with 21 points. The win left Marine coach Prospere Mihigo optimistic about the club’s chances to salvage the title.

"Games against Espoir are never easy but I’m glad we pulled through. The result is a confidence booster for the boys and we hope we shall be up there when the play-offs set in,” said Mihigo.

In the other top flight ties, National University of Rwanda (UNR) thumped UGB 69-53; CSK picked themselves up from a low start to record a slim 58-54 victory over Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) while Cliff Owuor’s APR whacked Rusizi 91-71.

Presta Malemba, on his return from a long-term knee injury led the champion’s annihilation with a career-best 33 points. It was the second successive victory for the Indomitable Lions, who fielded several reserve players.

"We are exactly where we want to be at this stage so we are happy with the way things have gone,” Owuor said.

Ends