Stade Malien top Group B, Tripoli extend unbeaten run after Game-day 2

    Review

    Eight games down, eight more to play in the West Division Elite 16 taking place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

    ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - On the day Al Ahli Sport extended their unbeaten run, hosts ABC bounced back and Stade Malien took the lead of Group B.

    Here's how things unfolded in Abidjan.

    Tripoli stand alone as solo undefeated in the season

    A 35-point advantage at some point in the game and a complete dominance in the paint sealed the deal for Libyan champions Al Ahli Tripoli Sport Club who saw off Spintex Knights of Ghana 101-69.

    The win means Coach Fouad Chakra's men are now 2-0 in the Elite 16 Round and 4-0 overall in the 2025 Road to BAL, while the Ghanaian champions dropped their second straight game for an overall 1-4 mark.

    Deng Angok Yak

    Al Ahli Tripoli converted more than half of their shots (39-for-74) and their 60 points near the basket were almost as many as Spintex Knights' total (69).

    Naseim Badrush and Deng Angok Yak Deng led the way with 21 points apiece with the latter adding 10 rebounds to his account.

    James Amotoe led the Spintex Knights with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

    Al Ahli Tripoli's win over Spintex also means the Libyan outfit remains as the only undefeated team in the West Division with a 4-0 record.

    Djambo powers tireless Stade Malien

    Less than 24 hours after stunning hosts ABC Fighters 90-80 in overtime, Stade Malien reminded everyone they are on a BAL mission, beating DR Congo's Chaux Sports 72-65.

    The Malian champions are now 2-0 in the Elite 16 and look strong to secure a spot in the Semi-Finals while Chaux Sport, who finished 4-0 in the Group Phase last week in Douala, dropped their second straight game.

    Chaux Sport's first lead (4-0) didn't last long until Ibrahim Djambo hit a three-pointer before Mahamane Coulibaly's layup put the Malians in front 5-4.

    Ibrahim Djambo

    Elisee Tshiende restored Chaux Sport's lead (6-5), but another trey from Djambo (8-6) powered Stade Malien to what turned out a hard-fought win.

    The 2023 BAL semifinalists went on to lead by 21 points (57-36) in the third quarter before signing out with the crucial triumph.

    Coulibaly led Stade Malien in scoring with 25 points and Djambo, who was 4-for-7 from behind the arc, contributed 18 points.

    KSA's bench prove vital again

    Kadji Sport Academy (KSA) survived a Mighty Barrolle to remain perfect in the Elite 16 round.

    And, for the second game in a row, the Cameroonian champions relied on its bench to overcome a resilient Mighty Barrolle side, which is chasing their first win in the postseason.

    Jean Paul Njiki (12), Makhtar Gueye (12) and Kenneth Kadji (9) came off to change the narrative of a game that saw the Liberian champions take the largest lead of the game - an 11-point advantage.

    Eventually, KSA settled for a 81-75 victory - their second straight triumph in the Elite 16 ahead of their clash against high-flying Al Ahly Tripoli on Thursday, November 7.

    Hosts bounce back

    Hosts ABC Fighters bounced back with a 90-51 win over Moanda Basket after a disappointing start to the Elite 16, 90-80 overtime loss to Stade Malien.

    Both ABC and Moanda share 1-1 record in Group B with a game left. The Ivorians, though, stand in second place thanks to a better point-differential to the Gabonese side.

    FIBA

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