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New recruit Delwan Graham was the player of the game, recording 16 points and 12 rebounds in a contest dominated by the East African side.
Rwanda Representatives in the Basketball Africa League REG did not need to engage second gear to defeat Kwara Falcons in their opening game of the competition.
The Rwandan champions eased to a comprehensive 64-48 victory over the debutants from Nigeria to the Sahara Conference race to the playoffs on a positive note.
New recruit Delwan Graham was the player of the game, recording 16 points and 12 rebounds in a contest dominated by the East African side.
REG started on the front foot and took the first quarter 16-09 to set the pace. However, the Nigerian side fought back in the second frame, which they edged 201-15 to make the game a contest.
Miodrag Perisic’s side took a slim two-point lead (31-29) into the halftime break but came back and blew away the Falcons in the third quarter.
A 16-point difference (24-08) saw REG pull away, and despite the Falcons’ fourth-quarter fight that yielded 11 points, the current Sahara Conference winners were home and dry.
Cleveland Thomas Jr scored 14 points, gathered five rebounds and dished out five assists In 31 minutes for REG.
Adonis Filer added 10 points, three rebounds and six assists as REG recorded their first win.
Jawad Adekoya had 15 points and four rebounds and was the only player to score in double figures for the Falcons.
The closest contributor, Anthony Wilson Jr., has a mere seven points and three rebounds.
REG will now focus on the next four games, from which they must get enough points to carry them to the playoffs slated for May.
ABC Fighters of Cote d’Ivoire are REG’s next opponents. The two will clash on Tuesday, with each looking for a second win in the tournament.
ABC defeated hosts AS Douanes in the opening game of the conference on Saturday.
After the games in Dakar, Senegal, the top four teams will qualify for the post-season held between May 21-28th at the BK Arena in Rwanda’s capital.
Basketball Africa League
Result
REG 64-48 Kwara Falcons
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