Uganda Men’s Basketball team the Silver Backs lost their opening group game at the ongoing 2017 Afro Basket championships in Senegal and Tunisia after a second half of nearly a no show.
Having led by as many as 15 points in the first half they gave away 55 points in the second as record African champions Angola eventually won it in 94-89 in over time.
Robert Opong was the first man on the score board converting his first of a game high 23 points on the night by sinking one of two free throws after being fouled by Angola’s Felizardo Ambrosio in the first minute.
Uganda took the first quarter 22-10 with wounderful perfomances from the likes of A’Darius Pegues, Stanley Ociti and Stephen Omonyi.
In the second quarter, Angola dominated possession but Uganda grabbing the all important points as it finished 22-19 in favour of the Silver Backs to ensure they (Uganda) went into the first half leading 44-29.
With the Ugandan bench proving ineffective, Angola took the initiative in the third quarter, registering six points before Uganda could answer. By the end of the quarter, Uganda’s lead had been reduced to only seven points.
In the fourth, Angola went into the lead for the first time since leading 2-1 in the first quarter when Reggie Moore who managed only nine points on the night shot outside the D for his only 3 pointer on the night as the 2015 loosing finalists led 70-69 with just over six minutes to play.
The lead changed hands four times in the last five minutes as the game ended 84-84 to enuser the first over time of the championships.
In overtime, only Stephen Omony and Robert Opong got onto the score sheet for the silver backs who managed only five points to Angola’s 10 meaning that the 11 time African champions won 94-89.
In the other results so far, follow group mates Morocco beat up on CAR 76-66 with Guinea loosing 55-75 to Rwanda, Tunisia winning 68-51 aganist Cameroon, Senegal thrashing South Africa 83-44 and defending champions Nigeria Ivory Coast’s late serge to win 78-77.
Today, action returns as Uganda takes on CAR at 7pm Ugandan time.
Uganda’s starting five.
•Jimmy Enabu
•Robert Opong
•Stephen Omony
•Stanley Ociti
•A’Darius Pegues
Bench
• Jonathan Egau
• Samuel Kalwanyi
• Syrus Kiviiri
• Ben Komakech
• Jonah Kermu Otim
• Joseph Ikon
Afro Basket 2017
Tunisia and Senegal
Uganda 89-94 Angola
Marius Ndiaye Stadium, Dakar
