Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers got off to a dominant start in the opening game of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday, with an 81-60 blowout win over Stade Malien.
The KingsMen, bronze medallists from last season, overturned a seven-point first-quarter deficit to beat their Malian counterpart inside the Salle Omnisport Moulay Abdellah, setting the tone for the fifth season of the BAL.
The Hoopers looked the hungrier of the two sides, shooting 41% from the field, with a 21-6 disparity in bench points, a key reason for their comfortable win.
Coach Ogoh Odaudu’s side edged the rebound game 49-43 to go along with 19 team assists and five blocks. The Hoopers scored more second chance points (15-7), led in fast break points (19-18), and had more points from turnovers forced (18-15).
Guard Kelvin Amayo, playing against his former team, led the Rivers Hoopers with 19 points; South Sudanese-Australian Madut Akec filled the stats sheet in his debut, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks.
Raphael Rashad Putney poured in 14 points, guard Shamba Maxi Munanga finished with 11 points and four assists, and Peter Olisemeka had nine points and 12 rebounds.
Stade Malien, meanwhile, were led by 20 points from Mahamane Coulibaly; Mouhamed Doumbya had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Cartier Diarra tallied 10 points.
The Rivers Hoopers will play host to FUS de Rabat next on Sunday, 6 April, after Stade Malien has battled Al Ittihad Alexandria.