Sunday, April 10
•Miracle Ravens 52-75 KIU Rangers
•Magic Stormers 35-53 UCU Lady Canons
•Victoria University 66-63 UCU Canons
•JKL Lady Dolphins 71-53 KCCA Leopards
•UPDF Tomahawks 71-76 Betway Power
Newcomers Victoria University picked their first win after a stunning 66-63 triumph over UCU Canons in the Tusker Lite sponsored NBL on Sunday at the Indoor Arena in Lugogo.
Nyong Marrier scored a game high 30 points and added 11 rebounds while Ronald Ayume added 13 points for Victoria University.
Jerry Kayanga and Rogers John Baptist scored 17 and 16 points respectively in a losing effort.
Playing in top flight for the first time, the newcomers had received baptism of fire after six defeats in as many games.
They lost to KCCA, JKL Dolphins, City Oilers, Ndejje Angels and Our Saviour prior to Sunday’s clash.
The Canons were in good form, unbeaten to say the least.
Nicholas Natuhereza’s charges had beaten KIU Titans, Tropical Royals, Falcons, KCCA Panthers, UPDF Tomahawks and Power.
And when UCU led 22-14 after the first quarter, it looked like a routine loss for Victoria University.
But they showed resilience to draw the tie level, 36-36 at halftime before taking a 4-point advantage into the last 10 minutes.
Victoria University widen their gap everytime UCU pulled closer in the fourth.
Peter Sifuma laid up to pull UCU within a point just 27 seconds on the clock but he later fouled Nyong Marrier who converted both freethrows to hand Victoria University a 3-point lead.
With the clock fading away, Sifuma’s three-point attempt rimmed out, and with it went UCU’s chance of a fight back.
There were celebrations from Victoria University and a sigh of relief for coach Eddy Manzi who will be hoping that this is the first of many wins to come.
The National Basketball League takes a break before returning after Easter.
