FridayREG 94-71 IPRC-Kigali

Rwanda international Olivier Shyaka posted a game high 26 points and 11 rebounds to help reigning champions Rwanda Energy Group (REG) defeat IPRC-Kigali 91-74 on Friday night at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

The win improved REG’s win ratio to 5:2 and jumped up to second position with 12 points, one behind former champions Patriots.

Cyrille Kalima’s controlled of the game from start to the end, even when IPRC- Kigali tried to fight back, especially in the second and fourth quarter, their effort was not enough to deny the champions a fifth win in seven games at the halfway stage in the season.

Both teams won two quarters each. REG claimed the first quarter 20-14 and the third 32-18, while the IPRC-Kigali narrowly snatched the second quarter 20-19 and 22-20 in the final quarter.

Former Espoir captain Shyaka scored 26 points and contributed 11 rebounds and 4 steals while Kami Kabange and Chris Walter Nkurunziza added 17 points apiece for REG, who are in the race to retain the league title.

Burundian point-guard Gilbert Nijimbere topped IPRC-Kigali’s scoring chart with 24 points. He also contributed six steals. Small forward Bruno Nyamwasa added 13 points while Jean-Paul Ndoli posted 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Friday night game marked the end of the league first round, which left REG in the second place with 12 points and IPRC-Kigali on sixth position with 10 points with a win ratio on 3:4.

The 2016 champions and 2017 FIBA Africa Zone V finalists, Patriots top the table standings with 13 points, while record seven-time league champions APR are third, also with 12 points.

Huye-based IPRC-South are in the fourth place with 11 points and winless Rusizi are at the bottom of the eight-team table with 7 points.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw