FIBA Africa Zone-3 Qualifier: Cote dIvoire sees off Togo 63-55

Cote dIvoire Saturday night put behind it its 72-52 points lose to Nigeria to stay focus for the race for the 10th All Africa Games in 2011 with a 63-55 points victory over Togo in the Day-4 of the FIBA Africa Zone-3 elimination in Lome, Togo.
The game which began on a explosive note from the blast of the referees whistle stayed neck-neck all through the third quarter before Cote dIvoire pulled away in the last quarter to snatch victory to maintain its second position in the four-nation 2011 Afrobasket and AAG qualifier.
Cote dIvoire won the first quarter by 17-16 points with Togo picking the second quarter by the same one point margin of 13-12 points for a half-time score of 29 points apiece.
Cote dIvoire took a one point lead at the end of the third quarter by 13-12 and added another seven with a 21-14 points win in the last quarter to pick a valuable win of 63-55 points thus confirming its superiority over Togo whom it earlier defeat in their first meeting last Tuesday.
Cote dIvoire Amara Kamate led the floor with 25 while Bohui Gbotto added 14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steal and 4 assists. Togo Comlan Pinheiro led his teammates with 18 points and 9 rebounds with big centre Maucter Diaby adding 10 points and 5 rebounds.

In todays pairing Benin Republic will take on cote dIvoire at 17H00 while host Togo battle Nigeria at 19H00.