- Kano Pillars 86-95 City Oilers
City Oilers have progressed to the quarterfinals of the 2017 FIBA Africa Champions Cup after defeating Kano Pillars 95-86 at Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès.
With both team’s having an equal chance of qualifying for the quarter finals of the tournament, the game was a real contest for the better part of the 40 minutes.
City Oilers took care of the first half of the encounter winning the first quarter 26-24 and taking the second 28-24 for a six points lead at halftime.
However, on return from the locker rooms, Kano Pillars’ shooting guard Abubakar Usman (27 points) as well as forwards Jimmy Williams (23 points) and Abdul Yahaya (16 points, 13 rebounds) took charge of the game for the Nigerian side and outscored Oilers 26-21 but trailed by a point heading into the all decisive fourth quarter.
Turning Point
The final quarter of the game was tight until the final two minutes of the game.
Trailing 88-82, Kano Pillars scored four unanswered points to come with in two, but a pair of free throws from Jordin Mayes followed by a lay-up from Jimmy Enabu (11 points, 7 assists) with under a minute to play crashed any hopes for the Nigerians.
Robinson Odoch once again led the way for the Ugandan side with 21 points, Lleon Tilman who had his best game at the tournament so far chipped in with 15 points while Adarius Pegues scored 14 points and Mayes had 12.
Oilers quarter final opponent
For finishing fourth in Group A, City Oilers will face the top seeds of Group B Union Sportive Monastir who are yet to taste defeat.