Al-Riyadi Hold Off Champville, 84-78
Al-Riyadi held off a competitive Champville squad to claim a hard-fought 84-78 D1M victory at Saeb Salam on Sunday, November 16. Maurice Kemp led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 17 points.
Al-Riyadi took a 44-34 lead into halftime. The fourth quarter was the decisive stretch, with Champville outscoring their opponents 22-14 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 5 dunks in total, with A. Lazic (Champville) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. A. Saoud (Al-Riyadi) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter. H. Sims was a force on the defensive end with 5 blocks.
Maurice Kemp was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals in 23 minutes of action. He shot 5-of-13 (38%) from the field, 7-of-8 (88%) from the free-throw line. Perrin Buford provided valuable support with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists. Hayk Gyokchyan also chipped in with 11 points off the starting lineup.
Al-Riyadi's bench was a major factor, contributing 34 points off the pine. Maurice Kemp was the standout reserve, providing 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 15 second-chance points and 18 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Al-Riyadi at 41% and Champville at 38%.
Al-Riyadi's ball movement was superior with 24 assists to Champville's 15. Al-Riyadi was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 17 points and putting together a 17-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Al-Riyadi put together a 17-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
In a losing effort, Aleksandar Lazic fought hard for Champville, finishing with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals. Jimmy Salem added 17 points, 6 rebounds, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.