BASKETBALL – Al Najma staved off a strong, third quarter challenge by Al Ahli to triumph 76-67 in a Zain Basketball League eighth-round fixture last night and move up the 12-team table.
Having led 40-37 at half-time, Al Najma saw their opponents outscore them, 13-7, in the third quarter which meant that Al Ahli led, 50-47, as the final 10 minutes of the game began.
Al Najma, then, galloped to their fifth victory in eight matches by scoring 29 points while Al Ahli could only manage 17.
Joshua Caldwell paced Al Najma with 29 points, five rebounds and four assists. Elijah Robinson contributed 14 points while Sadiq Shukralla chipped in with 10.
Unique McLean was the top scorer for Al Ahli with 18 points.
Al Najma are now joint-second with Al Ahli on 13 points each, behind defending champions and table leaders Manama, who are unbeaten so far this season, with 14 points from seven straight wins.
Two eighth-round games are scheduled to be played today at the Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam. Bahrain Club take on Al Ettihad at 5.30pm while Muharraq clash with Nuwaidrat at 7.30pm.
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