By Michael Ainomugisha
Uganda Christian University’s basketball teams marked the start of the second round with wins; both the UCU Canons and UCU Lady Canons secured wins in their National Basketball League games at YMCA Wandegeya courts on Saturday, May 31.
The Lady Canons made it five wins in their last six games with a slow 48-31 victory over the Miracle Ravens, extending their unbeaten record against them in recent encounters.
Skipper Hajjara Najjuko led the scoring with 13 points , while forward Martina Anyango contributed a solid 8 points and 8 rebounds in another composed performance. UCU built their lead early and maintained a steady rhythm throughout all four quarters, never letting Miracle into the contest.
Later in the evening, the UCU Canons delivered a statement win by outscoring the KCCA Panthers 82-61, avenging their first-round loss and further boosting their second-round campaign.
The Mukono side came out firing, establishing a 24-13 lead after the first quarter. A strong second period saw them extend that lead to 17 points (46-29) at halftime. KCCA responded with a better third quarter (14-12), but UCU closed the game confidently, outscoring the Panthers 24-18 in the final quarter to seal off a commanding win.
Forward Joel Kayiira was unstoppable, finishing with a dominant 23 points and 17 rebounds in what was arguably his best all-around performance of the season, marking a fourth double-double. Alier Pech Lier Jongroor added 7 points and 16 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends, while captain Ibanda Lwabanga registered 14 points and 9 rebounds.
For KCCA, Emmanuel Odongkara scored 14 points, and Davis Assimwe added 13, but the Panthers struggled to keep pace with UCU’s intensity and defensive organisation by the final quarter.
