D’Tigers rounded off their tune up games with a 105-42 blowout win over Benin Republic at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium Lagos on Wednesday.
Four D’Tigers finished on double figures, Keith Omoerah led the way with 29 points, Caleb Agada had 24 points, Tosin Mehinti added 17 points while Bryant Mbamalu made 12 points in a game dominated by the host.
Nigeria led at the end of all four quarters (23-12), (52-24) , (74-36), (105-42) but were held back at the beginning of the third quarter. The visitors made a 9-0 run to reduce the deficit to 23 with 4:56 left on the clock.
D’Tigers got back their rhythm late in the third and were able to reduce Benin Republic to just 6 points in the last quarter.
It’s the third and last of the friendly games before Nigeria host the third window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Lagos this weekend. D’Tigers played Cote d’Ivoire last weekend in Abidjan losing one and winning the second a day after.
Meanwhile, D’Tigers returnees Olaseni Lawal and Alade Aminu couldn’t make it down for the qualifiers while Ben Uzoh joined up with the squad on Tuesday.
After the game, D’Tigers head coach Alex Nwora commended the NBBF for organizing the friendlies for the team.
“The federation, the President they all want to see us do well. They don’t want to settle for less and so we have to be at our best. I am happy about the friendlies,” he said
“It was good for us based on the time we have to get prepared for the qualifiers.”
Nigeria face Uganda, Rwanda and Mali on June 29, June 30 and July 1 respectively.
