UCU Canons 71-67 City Oilers (Series tied 2-2)
After going down 2-0 to the defending champions in the seven-game National Basketball League playoffs finals, not many believed it would come to this point.
Two nights and two great performances on both ends of the floor from the league finals debutants and the series are tied at 2-all.
Following a huge Game 3 loss, the City Oilers had an extended team talk. The outcome was a 7-0 to start Game 4 and eventually took the opening quarter 17-13 on Friday night at YMCA. The Canons responded with a 15-13 second quarter to keep the Oilers in touching distance.
The 22-17 third frame for City Oilers meant the two-time defending champions went into the final quarter with a 52-46 lead over the Canons.
Oilers lead hovered between 4 and 9 points until nearly mid-way through the quarter. With Canons trailing 61-53, Nick Natuhereza called for a time-out that was followed by a 12-0 run from the Canons that saw Brian Namake and Steven Wundi connecting from 3-point range and UCU led 65-61 with 54 seconds.
Landry Ndikumana banked a big 3-pointer to pull the Oilers within two points (69-67) following Ivan Lumanyika’s turnover but throws from Jonathan Egau sealed the win for the Canons.
Wundi once again paced UCU with a game-high 21 points connecting on five 3-pointers and assisting four baskets. Namake added 15 points and made 6 assists while bigs Desmond Owil and Ivan Lumanyika contributed 11 points apiece.
Ndikumana had team 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in a losing effort. Jimmy Enabu and Kami Kabange contributed 12 points each. Samuel Kalwanyi had 10 points and 11 rebounds while Geoffrey Omondi chipped in with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Game 5 of the series is on Sunday at Lugogo.