Sunday, June 7
•JT Lady Jaguars 111-32 Nabisunsa
•Miracle Eaglets 52-71 UPDF Lady Tomahawks
•KIU Rangers 64-61 Magic Stormers
•UPDF Tomahawks 78-71 UCU Canons
•Victoria Crocs 77-71 JT Jaguars
UPDF Tomahawks kept their National Basketball League survival hopes alive with a hard-fought 78-71 overtime victory against UCU Canons on Sunday at the YMCA Court in Wandegeya.
The Tomahawks showed resilience after a slow start, overturning an eight-point first-quarter deficit to claim a vital win in their battle against relegation.
UCU dominated the opening period and led 21-13 at the end of the first quarter, but UPDF gradually fought their way back into the contest.
The game remained tightly contested throughout, with the Tomahawks relying on late heroics from Joel Icumar and Godwin Muhamireho to force overtime.
The pair delivered crucial baskets in the closing stages of regulation as UPDF erased a deficit to level the score at 63-63.
The Tomahawks then took control in the extra period, outscoring the Canons 15-8 to seal their sixth victory of the season.
Bang Difu led the UPDF scoring effort with 20 points, while Austin Odhiambo added 15 points. Muhamireho chipped in with 12 points, including the decisive contribution that helped force overtime.
For UCU, Jimmy Otim produced a standout performance with a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double.
However, he received little support from his teammates as no other Canons player reached double figures.
Zachariah Ekirapa added seven points and 11 rebounds for UCU, who struggled offensively throughout the contest.
The university side missed 32 of their 39 attempts from beyond the arc and were outrebounded 66-60, factors that ultimately proved costly.
The victory improves UPDF’s record to 6-15 and leaves them just above the relegation zone with one regular-season game remaining.
With Kampala Rockets already relegated from the 12-team league, one more team is set to join them in the drop to the lower division.
The battle for survival now involves three teams: JKL Dolphins (6-15), UPDF Tomahawks (6-15), and UMU Flames (5-16).
UPDF can guarantee their safety by defeating Victoria Crocs in their final game of the season.
Meanwhile, UMU Flames must overcome JT Jaguars and hope that either JKL Dolphins, who face Rezlife Saints, or UPDF fail to register a win in their respective fixtures.
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