FIBA AFROBASKET CHAMPIONSHIP: Senegal 93-55 Uganda
The Uganda men’s basketball team, Silverbacks were pummelled 93-55 by Senegal in their opening game of the Fiba Afrobasket championship Wednesday night in Kigali, Rwanda.
Uganda’s small line-up faced it rough against a dominant Senegal side that took care of business in the paint as well as beyond the arc.
The Silverbacks struggled for offence all night and shot a dismal six of 36 from downtown plus 14 of 38 from the paint as Senegal took the headlines in the first played group D game.
Senegal led 21-14 at the end of the first quarter and stretched the lead to nine points (40-31) going into the halftime break.
Guard Kieran Zziwa showed flashes of brilliance off the bench as he initiated Uganda’s charge forward by driving to the hoop to get some buckets.
Uganda were, however, careless with possession and their 24 turnovers on the night led to 38 of Senegal’s points on the night.
George Galanopoulos’ charges were cold in the third frame as Senegal kept them out of the paint and the shot from outside failed to go in all night long.
They only managed nine points against Senegal’s 25 and trailed 68-40 going into the last ten minutes of the game.
Adam Seiko and Eric Rwahwire started finding their range in the final ten minutes but Senegal had already wrapped up the game.
Seiko was the only Silverback to score in double figures but his 12 points were not enough to hand Uganda a first ever win in the group stages of the Afrobasket.
Kieran Zziwa got 9 points while Ishmail Wainwright and Arthur Kaluma contributed 8 points each in Uganda’s losing effort.
Gorgui Dieng led all scorers with 19 points and 8 rebounds to pace Senegal. Brancou Badio (17 points), Ibrahima Faye (15 points), and Alga Ndiaye (14 points) also scored in double figures for Senegal.
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