Gombe Bulls three match Losing streak came to an end on Friday with a 75-67 points win over 2014 champions Sport Libolo in Tunisia.
Yakuba Sylvanus had 19 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, Ibe Agu added 15 points and 4 rebounds, Godwin David and Abdulwahab Yakubu both added 10 points each.
The zone 3 representatives had a great start to the game hitting 4 of 7 from the 3 point line in the first quarter. David and Yakubu both were accurate from the arc hitting 2/2 while Libolo hit 3/8 from the deep. Bulls took a 26-23 lead into the second, extending it by 7 points with 7:16 remaining. Libolo however reduced the deficit, equalling the points 33-33 with 4:17 left. The Nigerian side however ensured they increased the lead going to half time (41-39).
Despite having a low scoring third quarter (14-17), it was the Angolans who edged it by a point ( 55-56).
Sylvanus made 8/11 from the field in 35 minutes of play while Agu made 4/4 from the floor and 6 of 10 from the line in 21 minutes. While the entire team made 56% of the their field goals, 6/ 16 down the arc and scored 13 of 25 from the free throw line.
Angola internationals Olimpio Cipriano had 13 points and 4 rebounds while Reggie Moore added 11 points and 8 rebounds. The Angolan side were poor on shooting , 40.68% missing 26 of 36 of their 3 point shots. But the two sides were guilty of turning over the ball 18 times in the game.
In the last quarter, the 2016 finalists had the lowest point recorded,11, in all the quarters while Gombe Bulls scored 20 points to stretch the lead to 8 points with less than 60 seconds left. Back to back 3 point missed by the 2014 champions ensured Gombe Bulls recorded their first win in four games at the ongoing FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Tunisia.
Gombe Bulls are fifth in Group B with second phase qualification to be determined after final round of games on Saturday. Only top four teams in each of the two groups will progress to the quarter finals.
