Al-Riyadi Defeat Antonine, 108-100
Al-Riyadi pulled away for a convincing 108-100 D1M win over Antonine at Antonine Club on Sunday, December 14. Maurice Kemp led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 27 points and 16 rebounds. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 208 points.
Antonine took a 46-44 lead into halftime, but Al-Riyadi mounted a stunning second-half comeback, outscoring Antonine 49-47 after the break.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 5 dunks in total, with P. Buford (Al-Riyadi) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. G. Cosey (Antonine) connected from beyond the arc in the second quarter during a crucial stretch. C. Chapman was a force on the defensive end with 6 blocks.
Maurice Kemp was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 27 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks in 42 minutes of action. He shot 10-of-18 (56%) from the field, 7-of-8 (88%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Perrin Buford provided valuable support with 29 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals. Amir Saoud also chipped in with 18 points off the starting lineup.
The Al-Riyadi bench added 9 points to the cause. Ismail Ahmad was the standout reserve, providing 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 19 second-chance points and 26 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Al-Riyadi at 50% and Antonine at 50%.
Al-Riyadi dominated the boards 46-39, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to extra possessions. Al-Riyadi owned the paint with 62 points inside to Antonine's 46. Al-Riyadi's ball movement was superior with 31 assists to Antonine's 26.
Down the stretch, Al-Riyadi came up clutch when it mattered most. M. Kemp nailed a clutch free throw with 01:24 remaining to help seal the victory.
For Antonine, Mark Khoury was the standout performer in defeat with 32 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. Clint Chapman added 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.