Hoopers digs deep to beat Rockets in Lagos

Solomon Ajegbeyi’s fourth double double of the season ensured Rivers Hoopers snatched a 64-70 points win over NAF Rockets at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos on Thursday.

Ajegbeyi scored 12 points and 11 rebounds and a block while Emmanuel Balogun had a game high 19 points and Ronald Alalibo contributed 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Hoopers had a sloppy start in the first half and never led all through trailing with as much as 13 points (38-25) in the third quarter. 

Rockets guard Emeka Ajaegbu knocked down shots with the help of his team mates scoring 11 points and 7 rebounds to go with it while Isiaka Saliu added 11 points and 7 rebounds and Shedrack Avih added 10 points.

However, the turning point of the game came as Hoopers reduced the deficit in the last quarter to two points with less than 3 minutes left to play (62-60). The KingsMen held on with a 4-1 run to snatch the victory limiting the host to just 9 points in the last quarter (9-22).

After the win, a relieved, Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu attributed their poor start to overconfidence. 

"I think it was just their mentality that was wrong right from the start. They came to the court didn't see their opponents. Their opponents strolled in one by one saying they were not going to play up to few minutes before jump ball. 

"My boys just assumed these people are not serious this game is done and dusted already but it didn't happen. Thank God we dug deep late in the last quarter. It was just a mental thing and it's something we have to address going forward," Odaudu said.

Rivers Hoopers will face Hoops and Read on Saturday also in Lagos.