Nigerian champions Kwara Falcons lost their second straight game at the 2023 Basketball Africa League by 78-74 to fellow debutants Stade Malien at the Dakar Arena on Tuesday.
Kadri Baba Jibril’s men showed a glimpse of improvement from their opening game loss against the Rwanda Energy Group, but they left it late and eventually fell to the Malians.
Stade Malien edged the first quarter 18-15 and continued to mount pressure on the Nigerians, subsequently increasing their lead in the second and third quarters to open a 15-point lead with a 69-45 scoreline heading into the final round.
???? Conférence du Sahara BAL (Basketball African League) Dakar????
???? Score Final
Kwara Falcons 74 ???? Stade malien de Bamako 78
???? Kwara Falcons
???? Mardi 14 Mars 16H00
???? Dakar Arena#BLANCSJOUENTBLANCSGAGNENT #cellulecom #Communication #infos pic.twitter.com/dho8opiWZz— Stademalien Bamako (@blancsdebamako) March 14, 2023
Albeit winning the fourth quarter 25-14, the Falcons lost the tie with a four-point deficit to continue a torrid start to the continental tournament.
The Kwara Falcons had four players in double-digit points with Anthony Wilson Jr. leading the team with his 19 points, along with 5 rebounds and three 3-pointers. Jamad Adekoya (12 points), Modou Fall Thiam (11 points), and Victor Ezeh (10 points), combined for 33 points for the Ilorin-based outfit.
Aliou Diarra scored 23 points to lead both teams in scoring while the sensational Souleymane Berthe added 20 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
Kwara Falcons will battle the defending champion US Monsatir on Wednesday while Stade Malien will look to build on their win when they face Senegal’s AS Douanes on Friday, March 17.
