United States International University-Africa sides post positive results in league matches

By ERICK OCHIENG’

The United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) had a successful weekend, edging out the University of Nairobi’s Terror and Blazers in men’s basketball Premier League contests at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

USIU-A beat Terror 63-61 before dimming Blazers 55-50. Blazers were, however not lucky in their second match of the weekend, losing 75-43 to  Ulinzi.

Despite Terror’s loss, the University of Nairobi students produced the highest scorer, Enock Ogecha, who had 22 points. USIU-A’s Alex Ramazani bagged 20 points.

The winners started the game strong, leading 17-11 in the first quarter and 13-10 in the second before losing 13-16 in the third and 20-24 in the fourth. Terror, who were unlucky in their second match, lost 63-51 to Strathmore University who had earlier thrashed champions Coop Bank 67-34.

“It was not our day; we will go back to the drawing board to establish where the rain started to beat us,” said Co-op coach Carey Odhiambo.

Walk-over awarded

Mennonites were edged out 54-50 by Nairobi Aviation College and failed to turn up for their second match, prompting a walk-over award to Nakuru Club, who had earlier lost 81-74 to Thunder.

Just like Co-op Bank, women’s champions Eagle Wings were clipped by hosts Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) at the Makande Gymnasium in Mombasa.

Eagle Wings lost 33-35 to KPA who were steered to victory by Yvonne Akinyi with12 points. Samba Mjomba was outstanding for Wings with nine points.

Strathmore women beat Kakamega-based Western Delight 60-29 in a match that saw Strathmore’s Melisa Akinyi net 11 points.

Pulled another win

Western Delight, however, were able to pull a 38-26 win over the Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCA-U) who later atoned for their loss with a 47-16 routing of the Mennonites.

Visiting Kenyatta University’s Oryx also found the going tough at Makande, losing 65-22 to Shimba Hills.

Co-op Bank edged USIU-A Flames 57-50 as Strathmore beat Safe Spaces 60-47 in the Women’s Premier League. Flames, however, redeemed themselves with a 64-47 win over Safe Spaces.

In the men’s Division One league, Kenya Airports Authority beat Parklands 84-45 and Umoja 58-53. Umoja later edged out Trailblazers 47-41 as Little Prince beat KCA-U 43-36. Upper Hill won 66-50 over World Hope before going down 65-34 to Strathmore.

World Hope won 61-50 against Little Prince, Zetech won 73-66 against Equity a Trailblazers edged KCA-U 43-41 in other Division One tie. 

Meanwhile, in the Nairobi Basketball Association League, Barclays Bank of Kenya Eagles extended their win, hitting Baraka Xtreme 63-54. Duncan Nalwenge bagged Eagles’ 14 points as Howard Juma scored  16 for the opponents.

CfC Stanbic hit Mount Kenya University 65-52.       

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