Al-Riyadi Overwhelm Hoops, 105-81
In a dominant D1M performance at Rockland Arena, Al-Riyadi dismantled Hoops 105-81 on Sunday, November 9. Ivan Buva led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds. The lead changed hands 7 times before Al-Riyadi eventually pulled away for good.
Al-Riyadi took a 55-46 lead into halftime. The second quarter was the decisive stretch, with Al-Riyadi outscoring their opponents 27-18 to swing the momentum in their favor. Al-Riyadi closed the game strong with a 30-21 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. T. White (Hoops) threw down a powerful dunk in the second quarter, one of 2 dunks in the game. K. Johnson (Hoops) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. G. Daaboul was a force on the defensive end with 8 blocks.
Ivan Buva was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 23 points, 11 rebounds in 24 minutes of action. He shot 9-of-12 (75%) from the field, 4-of-10 (40%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Ali Mansour provided valuable support with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals. Maurice Kemp also chipped in with 18 points off the bench.
Al-Riyadi's bench was a major factor, contributing 39 points off the pine. Maurice Kemp was the standout reserve, providing 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 18 second-chance points and 20 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Al-Riyadi held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 53% compared to Hoops's 42%. From beyond the arc, Al-Riyadi connected on 6-of-19 (31%) while Hoops managed just 9-of-31 (29%).
Al-Riyadi dominated the boards 48-36, including 19 offensive rebounds that led to extra possessions. Hoops committed 17 turnovers compared to Al-Riyadi's 11, leading to 21 points off turnovers for Al-Riyadi. Al-Riyadi owned the paint with 62 points inside to Hoops's 36.
The biggest momentum shift came when Al-Riyadi put together a 10-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Al-Riyadi answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
In a losing effort, Kedrian Johnson fought hard for Hoops, finishing with 32 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals. Trazarien White added 21 points, 6 rebounds, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.