Al-Riyadi Overcome Sagesse, 122-114
Al-Riyadi pulled away for a convincing 122-114 D1M win over Sagesse at Saeb Salam on Saturday, January 3. Perrin Buford led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 31 points and 14 rebounds. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 236 points.
Al-Riyadi took a 66-49 lead into halftime. The first quarter was the decisive stretch, with Al-Riyadi outscoring their opponents 36-20 to swing the momentum in their favor. Sagesse closed the game strong with a 25-18 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 9 dunks in total, with H. Gyokchyan (Al-Riyadi) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. A. Omot (Al-Riyadi) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. P. Bass was a force on the defensive end with 5 blocks.
Perrin Buford was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 31 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists in 38 minutes of action. He shot 13-of-19 (68%) from the field, 3-of-4 (75%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Hayk Gyokchyan provided valuable support with 24 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, including 4 three-pointers. Amir Saoud also chipped in with 18 points off the bench.
Al-Riyadi's bench was a major factor, contributing 27 points off the pine. Amir Saoud was the standout reserve, providing 18 points, 12 assists, 2 steals in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 24 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Al-Riyadi at 54% and Sagesse at 50%. From beyond the arc, Al-Riyadi connected on 10-of-26 (38%) while Sagesse managed just 6-of-27 (22%).
Al-Riyadi's ball movement was superior with 34 assists to Sagesse's 19. Al-Riyadi was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 19 points.
Down the stretch, Al-Riyadi came up clutch when it mattered most. A. Saoud nailed a clutch free throw with 00:14 remaining to help seal the victory.
For Sagesse, Paris Bass was the standout performer in defeat with 37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists. Youssef Khayat added 29 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.