DAR ES SALAAM (Tanzania) – Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) recovered from its defeat on the first day against Dynamo BBC to relaunch itself in the race to qualify for the Elite 16 of the Eastern Division by winning 68-48 against Elan Coton of Benin.
The two teams were meeting for the first time in the Road to BAL Group C matches currently taking place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and, after losing their opening match, needed a positive result .
Nigerian international Bright Osagie, who played just over 30 minutes, led the attack for KPA with 14 points in the win and came just one rebound away from a double-double.
KPA improved their Group C record to 1-1 after a defeat on the opening day.
Luqman Leon Lundy, who spent 26.44 minutes on the floor, scored 12 points collectively, as did Tyronne Maliek Jordan, KPA’s leading scorer in the opening game.
Yves-Louis Ngaransou led the way for Élan Coton, recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Asshe Stephane Auguste Kokoun also had a similar performance with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
In the first quarter, KPA scored its first point thanks to Tobias Odhiambo on the free throw line, who converted the first of his two shots, while Élan Coton opened its account thanks to Louis Ngaransou.
Yves-Louis Ngaransou
The Benin champions were on the line, leading 8-3 then 10-5, after 4.56 minutes of play.
The Kenyan champions, based in Mombasa, however fought back to equalize at 13 on a free throw from Eugene Odera.
Lennox Wanje stole the ball from Abdou Sane and laid it in to give KPA the lead for the first time since the first free throw. Abdoulaye Haidara had a chance to equalize but missed one of his attempts from the free throw line to make it 15-14, a score that remained unchanged at the end of the first quarter.
Élan Coton regained the lead at 16-15, with Ngaransou doing the damage, but Wanje responded almost immediately with a three-pointer that brought KPA back into the lead at 18-16. The Kenyans then scored 10 points to lead 25-16 before the opponent was able to score the next point.
The second quarter ended with a score of 20-12 in favor of the East Africans who took a 9-point advantage at half-time (35-26).
Martin Kitong’o opened the scoring for KPA in the third quarter with a steal and a layup. The team increased its advantage to 11 points halfway through the quarter (41-30).
Nigerian Bright Osagie Akhuetie led KPA to victory with 14 points.
The second part of the period was rather quiet, with both teams scoring only seven points. Kitong’o scored KPA’s final basket with 1.50 minutes remaining, but the team was unable to capitalize on chances to increase their advantage.
Ngaransou and Auguste Kokoun got the ball rolling in the final period with a layup and a mid-range shot to bring Élan Coton’s score to 41. Adera allowed KPA to cross the 50-point mark with a jump shot for 50-41 and 52-41 on the line in the middle of the last quarter.
A three-pointer from Maliek Jordan made KPA’s score 55-43, while Haidara added two shots from the line. A layup from Adera and another shot from Jordan brought the score to 62-43 and the team coached by Guy Arnaud won 68-48.
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday for their final Group C matches. KPA will play against Pazi BBC while Élan Coton will face Dynamo BBC.
FIBA
2023-10-20 18:49:30
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