KIU Titans’ season of growing pains continued on Wednesday night as they suffered humiliation at the hands of Nam Blazers at Abja Park in Naalya.
Against a lightweight opponent, Stephen Nyeko gave his bench players extended playing time and they delivered a 56-point (126-70) victory, the team’s first 100-plus scoring explosion.
The Blazers ran off to a 36-11 first-quarter lead, a harbinger of what the night would be for the new look Titans against a transition side playing at home.
While KIU tightened up their defense early in the second quarter and got their own offense going, the defence couldn’t hold for much longer as the Blazers went for 28 points to lead by 30 (64-34) at the long break.
Namuwongo’s offensive production in the third quarter was identical to that of the second as Titans’ scoring was nearly halved by Blazers’ defense.
All Blazers players who stepped on the floor but James Okello scored at least 2 points. Innocent Ochera led the way with a game-high 24 points. Mose Mugisha (23 points & 15 rebounds) and Arthur Wanyoto (20 points & 13 rebounds) racked up double-doubles, Blair Wadaya netted 14 points while Henry Ssebagala, Peter Obleng and skipper Paul Odong contributed 12 points each.
Daniel Ondonkyero scored a team-high 18 points for KIU with William Saverion (12) and Bang Desmasiro (11) also reaching double figures in a losing effort.
Meanwhile, in the contest at YMCA in Wandegeya, league returnees Rezlife Saints overpowered Livingstone 58-48.
