SaturdayPatriots 134-47 30-PlusEspoir 87-65 UGB

Shooting Guard Chris Walter Nkurunziza stole the show on Saturday as reigning champions Patriots overwhelmed 30-Plus 134-47 to begin the season’s second round on a high.

The Kagugu-based side went into the game knowing that a win would put them two points clear at the top of the table ahead of fellow title contenders Rwanda Energy Group (REG), who remain second with 17 points and a game in hand.

Nkurunziza contributed a season high 46 points to guide his side to victory, which took them to 19 points. It was 30-Plus’ ninth defeat in ten games.

Henry Mwinuka’s team dominated the game from start to finish, claiming the first quarter 18-13 in which Nkurunziza dropped 16 points before taking the second quarter 30-12 with the 23-year old adding 11 points as Patriots took a 28-25 half-time lead.

Patriots showed no signs of slowing down as they took the third quarter 45-15, with Nkurunziza dropping 12 points before he added another seven in the fourth quarters, which his team won 41-7.

Meanwhile, in another game played on Saturday, former champions Espoir defeated United Generation Basketball (UGB) 87-65 to keep alive their hopes for a fifth league title.

Maxime Mwiseneza’s Espoir took the first quarter 24-21 and the second 21-07 finishing the first half leading 45-28. The four-time league winners claimed the third 20-14 before losing the fourth quarter 22-23. Espoir remain third with 17 points while UGB are in seventh with 13 points.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw