Al-Riyadi Dominate NSA, 107-90
Al-Riyadi delivered a comprehensive 107-90 beatdown of NSA in D1M action at Fouad Chehab Stadium on Tuesday, January 20. Maurice Kemp led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 23 points. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 197 points.
Al-Riyadi took a 50-36 lead into halftime. The third quarter was the decisive stretch, with Al-Riyadi outscoring their opponents 30-19 to swing the momentum in their favor. NSA closed the game strong with a 35-27 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. P. Buford (Al-Riyadi) threw down a powerful dunk in the first quarter, one of 3 dunks in the game. P. Fakhry (NSA) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. M. Kemp was a force on the defensive end with 3 blocks.
Maurice Kemp was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals in 23 minutes of action. He shot 10-of-12 (83%) from the field, 3-of-4 (75%) from the free-throw line. The team was a remarkable +23 with him on the floor. Hayk Gyokchyan provided valuable support with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, including 5 three-pointers. Karim Zeinoun also chipped in with 15 points off the starting lineup.
Al-Riyadi's bench was a major factor, contributing 34 points off the pine. Nuni Omot was the standout reserve, providing 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 19 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Al-Riyadi held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 62% compared to NSA's 48%.
Al-Riyadi owned the paint with 44 points inside to NSA's 34. Al-Riyadi's ball movement was superior with 34 assists to NSA's 19. Al-Riyadi was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 27 points and putting together a 10-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Al-Riyadi put together a 10-0 run in the second quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
Despite the result, Richard Maykey showed his quality for NSA, contributing 28 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals. Petar Rakicevic added 29 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.