Al-Riyadi Beat Antonine, 104-97

Al-Riyadi held off a competitive Antonine squad to claim a hard-fought 104-97 D1M victory at Saeb Salam on Saturday, February 14. Maurice Kemp led the charge for Al-Riyadi with a game-high 26 points. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 201 points.

Al-Riyadi took a 54-53 lead into halftime.

The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 6 dunks in total, with C. Chapman (Antonine) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. E. Rustom (Antonine) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter. M. Kemp was a force on the defensive end with 4 blocks.

Maurice Kemp was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists in 29 minutes of action. He shot 11-of-17 (65%) from the field, 4-of-4 (100%) from the free-throw line. Nuni Omot provided valuable support with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Amir Saoud also chipped in with 21 points off the bench.

Al-Riyadi's bench was a major factor, contributing 31 points off the pine. Amir Saoud was the standout reserve, providing 21 points, 4 assists in a spark-plug role. Al-Riyadi also generated 17 second-chance points and 15 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.

Al-Riyadi held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 45% compared to Antonine's 52%. From beyond the arc, Al-Riyadi connected on 8-of-21 (38%) while Antonine managed just 11-of-23 (47%). Al-Riyadi also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 30 free throws to Antonine's 12.

Antonine committed 13 turnovers compared to Al-Riyadi's 5, leading to 15 points off turnovers for Al-Riyadi. Al-Riyadi was in control for much of the game, putting together a 11-0 scoring run.

The biggest momentum shift came when Al-Riyadi put together a 11-0 run in the third quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.

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.

Despite the result, Glenn Cosey showed his quality for Antonine, contributing 26 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists. Clint Chapman added 20 points, 6 rebounds, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.