FUBA National Basketball League
KIU Titans 94-79 City Oilers
YMCA Courts, Wandegeya
Friday, 03-08-2018
KIU Titans defeated National Basketball League defending champions, City Oilers 94-79 in one of the two games played at YMCA in Wandegeya on Friday.
The University side who came into the game having won the first meeting of the season between the two sides 72-57 produced a fourth quarter master class to power their way past a hapless Oilers side.
KIU had five players (four starters) reach double figures on the night with Micheal Bwanga (20) top scoring on the night. Ethienne Kazungu (12), Chris Omanyi (12), Dennis Balungu (11) and substitute Suudi Ulanga (17) are the others who beat the 10 point barrier for the Kansanga based side.
For Oilers, James Okello top scored for them with 18 points as captain Jimmy Ennabu (11) and Stephen Omony (11) were the others who reached double figures for the five time league defending champions.
The loss means that Oilers relinquish second spot to KIU with both teams boosting the same record after 18 games (11-4) but the later holding a better head to head record.
How the action unfolded:
Oilers started strongly, racing into a 5-1 lead inside the first minute as Jonah Otim’s layup and Josh Johnson’s three cancelled out Ethienne Kazungu’s one of two free throws made.
KIU immediately went on a ran of 7-0 to wipe out Oilers early advantage on route a 21-17 quarter victory.
The second was more of an even contest as both teams traded baskets but it was Oilers who took the initiative, winning it 23-21 and ensuring that KIU holds only a slim two point advantage at the break.
Oilers started the third strongly, scoring the first seven points of the quarter through Stephen Omony and Jimmy Enabu (both threes) coupled by Okello converting one of his two free throws following a foul by Dennis Balungu.
With 7:52 to play in the Quarter, Chris Omanyi scored Titans’s first points of the third off a hook shot but that only propelled Oilers to scoring the next six points of the game and race into a nine point lead-the most they held throughout the game.
The Titans produced a strong finish to the quarter to ensure they go into the last 10 minutes of the game with a slender one point advantage despite losing the third 23-24.
With 8:59 to play, Jimmy Ennabu sank a long three to reduce KIU’s lead to one but that was the closest Oilers came to winning it as Titans ran riot and won the quarter 29-19 and the game 94-79.
The first game of the evening saw leaders BetWay Power consolidate their lead at the top thanks to a slender 68-65 victory over JKL Dolphins.
Power won the first quarter convincingly, 26-10 but JKL grew into the game, winning the last three quarters.
Despite the effort, the 16 point first quarter deficit was too much for JKL as Power eventually saw out the game by a mere three points.
Power captain Joseph Ikong top scored for his side with 17 points, adding seven rebounds and two assists to his game. Geoffrey Soro (15) and Paul Odong (13) were the others who reached double figures for the BetWay financed side.
The victory takes Power’s record to 16-3 for the season after the first 19 games of the season.
For JKL, they also had three players reach double figures in terms of points with Makala Libe (17) top scoring. Captain Brian Namake (15) and Ferdinand Odama (10) were the others who scored 10 or more.
JKL remain fourth having won only eight of their first 18 games of the campaign.
