Daystar University Falcons on Saturday picked up their third win of the season as the Zuku Universities Basketball League (ZUBL) continued at the recently refurbished United States International University (USIU-A) grounds.
With 44-36 (15-10, 09-12, 16-03 and 04-11) points over KEMU-Nairobi, the Falcons moved to 8 points after five matches, and are now joint leaders with Mount Kenya University-Nairobi on the Nairobi Conference log.
Falcons’ Joe Nabisu contributed 13 points and two rebounds for his side with Sam Muhire garnering the same number of points for KEMU.
In the ladies’ matches, University of Nairobi’s Dynamites thumped MKU-Thika
49-33 (06-13, 08-04, 11-04, 23-12) with 14 of their points coming from rebounds.
UON had been thrown off balance in the opening quarter that saw Joanne Mittow twisting her ankle in the first five seconds as she attempted to stop Pauline Mwangi’s layup.
The Dynamites lost that quarter as Mwangi and Veronica Aono easily penetrated their defense. However, Trufosa Mochecha’s form in the last two quarters proved the game changer for the second placed UON, as the victory pushed them to 8 points after 4 matches, with the leaders, USIU Flames, firmly in sight.
“It was not an easy game at all,” said Dynamite’s Janet Akoth, who managed 9 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. “Some of us struggled to find balance in the first few minutes, with the court being very new. Akoth added that it was an important win, given that MKU were technically good, especially in stopping UON from making three-pointers.
It was the hosts, USIU, who were left in high spirits as both the men and women sides extended their good run in the league. The varsity’s experienced ladies, the Flames, butchered an injury-plagued KEMU with a comprehensive 82-06 hammering. Marelen Bokuru was left unchallenged as she secured 24 points and 4 rebounds to leave her team with 328 points scored this season.
USIU Tigers served an equal piece of the same pie to KEMU men’s side with a dazzling 86-26 victory that left the visitors capitulated. Tigers’ Alex Ramaghazani emerged the most outstanding player of the weekend, sinking in 27 points, with Lionel Manyara and Kevin Macharia contributing 16 points, 3 rebounds and 12 points, 5 rebounds, respectively.
ZUKU league action continues next weekend.
