Al-Riyadi Overcome Chabeb El Batroun, 81-72
Al-Riyadi pulled away for a convincing 81-72 D1M win over Chabeb El Batroun at Manara on Saturday, January 17. Amir Saoud led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 20 points. Al-Riyadi built a commanding lead of up to 23 points and never looked back.
Al-Riyadi took a 49-29 lead into halftime. The first quarter was the decisive stretch, with Al-Riyadi outscoring their opponents 24-14 to swing the momentum in their favor. Chabeb El Batroun closed the game strong with a 21-15 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 5 dunks in total, with M. Kemp (Al-Riyadi) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. D. Washington (Chabeb El Batroun) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. H. Gyokchyan was a force on the defensive end with 9 blocks.
Amir Saoud was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 20 points, 4 assists in 22 minutes of action. He shot 7-of-12 (58%) from the field, 2-of-5 (40%) from three-point range, 4-of-4 (100%) from the free-throw line. The team was a remarkable +20 with him on the floor. Perrin Buford provided valuable support with 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists. Maurice Kemp also chipped in with 19 points off the starting lineup.
Al-Riyadi's bench was a major factor, contributing 34 points off the pine. Amir Saoud was the standout reserve, providing 20 points, 4 assists in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 19 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Al-Riyadi at 44% and Chabeb El Batroun at 43%.
Chabeb El Batroun committed 16 turnovers compared to Al-Riyadi's 8, leading to 10 points off turnovers for Al-Riyadi. Al-Riyadi was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 23 points and putting together a 13-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Al-Riyadi put together a 13-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
Despite the result, Anthony Fairley showed his quality for Chabeb El Batroun, contributing 29 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks. Ruot Monyyong added 17 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.