Al-Riyadi Dominate Homenetmen, 118-97
In a dominant D1M performance at Saeb Salam, Al-Riyadi dismantled Homenetmen 118-97 on Tuesday, December 23. Maurice Kemp led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 28 points. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 215 points.
Al-Riyadi took a 63-51 lead into halftime. The fourth quarter was the decisive stretch, with Al-Riyadi outscoring their opponents 29-19 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 11 dunks in total, with P. Buford (Al-Riyadi) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. A. Saoud (Al-Riyadi) connected from beyond the arc in the first quarter during a crucial stretch. I. Ahmad was a force on the defensive end with 4 blocks.
Maurice Kemp was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 28 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals in 30 minutes of action. He shot 13-of-18 (72%) from the field. Ivan Buva provided valuable support with 26 points, 8 rebounds. Ali Mansour also chipped in with 16 points off the bench.
Al-Riyadi's bench was a major factor, contributing 42 points off the pine. Ivan Buva was the standout reserve, providing 26 points, 8 rebounds in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 20 second-chance points and 35 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Al-Riyadi held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 59% compared to Homenetmen's 50%.
Al-Riyadi dominated the boards 45-31, including 14 offensive rebounds that led to extra possessions. Al-Riyadi owned the paint with 74 points inside to Homenetmen's 46. Al-Riyadi's ball movement was superior with 29 assists to Homenetmen's 24.
The biggest momentum shift came when Al-Riyadi put together a 14-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
Despite the result, Ahmad Ibrahim showed his quality for Homenetmen, contributing 27 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Khaleed Thomas added 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.