Al Ittihad beat Hoopers 100-80 to end BAL unbeaten run

Al Ittihad Alexandria extended their perfect start to the 2025 Basketball Africa League with a commanding 100-80 victory over Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers in Rabat, Morocco, on Tuesday, The PUNCH reports. The Egyptian side, who have now won all three of their games, proved too strong for Hoopers, who have also won their previous two games in the Kalahari Conference. Rivers Hoopers came out with intent in the opening quatre, staying competitive with Al Ittihad and managing to keep the score tight at 23-25. However, despite their performance, they struggled to contain Al Ittihad’s offensive power, especially from Kyle Vinales (188-SG-1992, college: CCSU, agency: 011 Sports), who had a game-high 26 points. The Egyptians pulled away in the second quartre, with the combination of Vinales’ perimeter shooting and a series of turnovers from the Hoopers giving them a 10-point advantage at halftime, leading 52-42. The third quartre saw Rivers Hoopers attempt to claw back into the game, but Al Ittihad’s defense remained resolute to halt Madut Akec (201-F-1999, college: Detroit) and Raphael Raphiael Putney (207-F/C-1990, college: UMass), who each scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, making it difficult for the Nigerian side to close the gap. The Egyptians then capitalised on their dominance in transition, pushing the score to 81-65 by the end of the third period. In the final quatre, Rivers Hoopers made a last-ditch effort to reduce the deficit, but Al Ittihad’s composure and strong offensive execution allowed them to maintain their advantage. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Egyptians had recorded a comfortable 100-80 win. Al Ittihad’s victory leaves them with a perfect record of three wins from three, while Rivers Hoopers drop to 2-1, with their first loss of the group phase. The Nigerian team will need to regroup and adjust their strategy ahead of their next match against host team FUS Rabat, while Al Ittihad will look to continue their dominant form as they aim for a strong finish in the group stages against Stade Malien.
Courtesy of: punchng.com