2013 AfroBasket: Review of the Preliminary Round in Abidjan

Group A

Ivory Coast – Egypt 69-62
Cote d’Ivoire record the second straight win at the home AfroBasket. The hosts overcame Egypt to stay perfect in Group A action. Mamadou Lamizana (207-F/C-81, college: Rutgers) recorded 18 points to lead the winners. Cote d’Ivoire nailed 21 points in the opening quarter and raced to a 5-point lead. Egypt narrowed the gap in the second frame. They stayed aggressive defensively and cut the distance to just 2 points at halftime 33:31. But the Elephants fired 23 points in the third term to take an 8-point lead into the final stanza. Egypt managed only 14 points in the fourth quarter and had to surrender at the end. Kinidinnin Stephane Konate (187-G-80) netted 11 points, while Mohamed Kone added 8 points for the home side. Assem Marei (206-F-92) answered with 25 points and 19 rebounds for Egypt. Ramy Ibrahim chipped in 11 points in the loss.

Senegal – Algeria 62-57
Senegal defeats Algeria for 2-1 record at the FIBA Africa Championship for Men, Preliminary Round. Senegal needed a 62:57 win to climb on the second place in Group A. Algeria meanwhile finished the group with 1-2 record. Both teams realized the importance of the game. At first Algeria started with an 18-10 run, but Senegal dominated the second and the third quarters. They posted a 20-10 rally in the second period and then won the third quarter 22-12. Algeria replied with a 17-10 run in the last stanza, but it was only to reduce to 5 final points. Maleye N’Doye (203-F-80, college: Furman) top-scored for the winners with 14 points and Mouhammad Faye (208-F-85, college: SMU) netted 13. Thomas Ibrahima produced 9, whilst N’Diaye Hamady had 8. Mehdi Cheriet (204-PF-87, agency: Fusion Sports, college: San Diego St.) and Mohamed Harath (196-F-90) delivered 14 points in a loss. Kaouane Abdel Halim poured in 10 and Gaham Hocine shot 8.

Group B

Tunisia – Rwanda 83-81
Tunisia needs overtime to win Group B at the 2013 Afrobasket. They edged Rwanda 83:81 to improve to 3-0 record. Rwanda meanwhile ell at 1-2 record and finished third in the group. Tunisia opened the game with a 26-17 rally, but then allowed the opponents to catch up in the second period. Rwanda posted a 24-13 surge to take 41:39 halftime advantage. Tunisia only needed 15-13 in the fourth period to tie the score at the end of the relegation. Due to 9-7 run in the last stanza, Tunisia remained undefeated at the tournament. Macram Ben Romdhane (204-PF-89, agency: Prossin Sports Management Inc.) top-scored for the winners with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Mejri Salah and Mourad El Mabrouk (194-SG-86) posted 16 each. Chennoufi Ziyed delivered 13 points in a win. Kenny Wilson (193-G-84, college: Boise St.) answered with 22 points in a loss, whilst Kabangu Kami collected 20 points and 14 rebounds. Ruhezamihigo Hamza produced 19 points and Shyaka Olivier had 13.

Burkina Faso – Morocco 63-84
Morocco outscore Burkina Faso on Sunday opener at 2013 Afrobasket. Morocco needed an 84:63 win and finished Group B with 2-1 record. Burkina Faso meanwhile remained winless at the tournament. Burkina Faso had nothing to lose after the first two losses at the tournament and won the first period 16-13. Morocco however erupted with a 24-6 surge in the second frame and took 37:22 halftime advantage. Moreover Morocco scored another 24 points in the third period and increased to 23-pont lead. Burkina Faso won the last stanza 25-23 and cut it to final 21 points. Abdelhakim Zouita (201-F-86) paced all the winners with 21 points and Younes Idrissi (204-C/F-84, college: Iona) notched 16. Rhalimi Reda delivered 12, whilst Najah Abderrahim had 10. Moussa Ouattara (202-C-88) replied with 25 points in the losing effort and Sawadogo Mamadou scored 18. Nissao Stephane added 8, while Yameogo Herve notched 6.

Group C

Angola – Central Africa 85-80
Angola registered the third straight win at the 2013 AfroBasket. They outgunned Central African Republic to win Group C. Carlos Morais (193-G-85) and Reggie Moore (203-PF-81, college: ORU) posted 18 points each to lead the winners. Central African Republic fell at 0-3 record after the defeat. Angola registered a 20:12 lead ten minutes into the game. They maintained it throughout the second stanza. Angola ensured a 43:34 halftime lead. Central African Republic struggled to slow down their opponents. Angola erupted for 24 points in the third term and built an 11-point lead heading into the fourth frame. Central African Republic unleashed 24 points in the final stanza and narrowed the gap at the end. Eduardo Mingas had 14 points and 9 boards for the winning team. Tony White (183-PG-88, college: Charleston) answered with 17 points for Central African Republic. William Kossangue-Toro and Max Kouguere had 15 points each in the loss.

Mozambique – Cape Verde 53-65
Cape Verde open Saturday action with the win over Mozambique at the FIBA Africa Championship for Men, Preliminary Round. Cape Verde improved to 2-1 record after a 65:53 win. Both teams entered the game with 1-1 record. Cape Verde took 16:13 lead and then posted a 19-14 rally in the second frame. Mozambique replied with a 14-11 run in the third period as Novela cut it to 41:46. Cape Verde however finished the game with a 19-12 rally for the final success. Dimitry Akanda-Coronel (193-G-92) top-scored for the winners with 18 points and Rudolph Brian netted 13. Correia Mario and Da Veiga Walter delivered 8 points each. Pio Da Silva (185-G-90) ended up with 12 points in a loss. whilst Magolico Octavio had 7. Letela Silvio notched 6 points in a loss.

Group D

Congo-Brazaville – Mali 87-77
Republic of Congo registered the first win at the African Championship. They held off Mali in Group D. Giovan Oniangue (196-F-91) stepped up with 31 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists to pace the winners. Mali slipped at 0-3 record at the bottom of the standings. Republic of Congo dropped 24 points in the opening quarter and gained a 6-point lead after ten minutes. Mali adjusted defensively in the second frame. They held the Congolese team to just 10 points in the quarter and recorded a 37:34 halftime lead. Republic of Congo exploded with 29 points in the third term and recorded an 8-point advantage at the final break. Republic of Congo stayed red hot offensively in the fourth frame. They unloaded 24 points and registered the initial win at the tournament. Jean-Felix Moupegnou (201-F-82, college: Alabama) netted 17 points, while Romaric Kondzy added 12 points for the winners. Modibo Niakate (185-G-81, agency: Fusion Sports, college: Cleveland St.) responded with 22 points and 7 boards for Mali. Ibrahima Haidara had 19 points and 10 boards in the loss.

Nigeria – Cameroon 91-84
Nigeria remained undefeated at the African Championship in Abidjan. They held off Cameroon to win Group D with a 3-0 record. Cameroon suffered the first defeat and slipped at 2-1 record in the second position. Ike Diogu (204-F/C-83, college: Arizona St.) posted 25 points and 15 boards to lead the winners. Nigeria capped the opening quarter with four straight points to snatch a 24:18 lead. Cameroon quickly denied the deficit in the second frame. Lux Mbah a Moute put them in front 40:39 late in the first half. The lead changed hands for several times throughout the third term. Cameroon finally went on a 10:0 run to gain a 61:52 lead. Nigeria got within three points 62:65 at the final break. Cameroon were up by one point 82:81 with under two minutes remaining. But Al-Farouq Amina drained a three-pointer to give Nigeria lead. Luc Mbah a Moute (200-G/F-86, college: UCLA) tied things up at 84 but Nigeria answered with 7 points in a row and snatched the victory. Alade Aminu (210-C-87, college: Georgia Tech) notched 22 points, while Ben Uzoh and Al-Farouq Aminu added 12 points each for the winners. Luc Mbah a Moute and Christian Bayang (195-G-87) answered with 20 points each for Cameroon.

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