Ahli beaten at buzzer in Arab clubs basketball

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Ahli were eliminated from further title contention in the 34th Arab Clubs Basketball Championship in Kuwait City following a heartbreaking 96-98 overtime loss to Dijla University Sports Club of Iraq in their round of 16 game.

AJ English buried the winning basket with no time remaining in the extra session to help lift his side to the victory and earn them a place in the quarter-finals.

The game was previously tied at 87-apiece at the end of regulation. It was a missed opportunity for Ahli, who were leading by eight, 87-79, with just under two minutes to go. But Dijla made a furious end-game rally and Abdullah Majed sank a three-pointer with 12 seconds to cap an 8-0 run and level the scores to send the contest into overtime.

Jerry Duffon paced Ahli in the game with 30 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists, while Nicolas David had 25 points including seven three-pointers. Maitham Jameel chipped in with 21 points and eight rebounds in the defeat.

Robinson Love was the game’s leading scorer with 38 points for Dijla. English had 24 while Nawras Dherar and Majed both finished with 12 apiece.