Umoja edged UON Terror 69-64 in a tightly contested Kenya National Men's Basketball Premier League match held at USIU Grounds on Saturday, boosting their hopes of securing a playoff spot.
The victory elevated Umoja to 27 points after 17 games, with a record of 10 wins and seven losses, keeping them in contention for a top-eight finish. Meanwhile, UON Terror remain in 12th place with 17 points from 15 games, having won only twice while losing 13 times this season.
Match Summary
- The first quarter was closely fought, ending 18-15 in favor of Umoja.
- Umoja dominated the second quarter, outscoring UON Terror 27-19 to lead 42-37 at halftime.
- The third quarter saw UON Terror narrow the gap by winning 17-13, trailing 54-55 going into the final period.
- In the fourth quarter, Umoja maintained composure and outscored their opponents 14-10 to seal a five-point victory.
Assistant head coach Victor Okello emphasized the importance of the win, stating, "We really needed this win, because as things are on the standings winning was the only option to help us towards the playoffs."
Conversely, UON Terror head coach Eugene Kalman expressed disappointment, citing critical errors in key moments. He remarked, "It's a disappointing loss. At some point we had a nice run but unfortunately we made mistakes. But good job to Umoja, they executed when it mattered and took home the victory."
With the regular season approaching its final stages, Umoja carries renewed momentum while UON Terror will aim to improve their performance in upcoming matches to avoid finishing at the bottom of the league standings.
