DAKAR (Senegal) - Côte d'Ivoire played an outstanding team game in their second FIBA World Cup Qualifying Group B game with eight players scoring double figures in their 96-59 victory against DR Congo on Saturday in Dakar.
It was the third meeting between the two countries, with each sharing the spoils. But the night belonged to the more polished Ivorians.
Early battle in the paint
Early on, the game was mostly contested in the paint, with both teams profiting from their attempts.
The Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire scored 10 out of 16 attempts, while the Leopards of DR Congo made 10 out of 17.
Ivorian centre Patrick Tape, with his 214 cm (7 ft) frame, was a clear mismatch, and he scored all his points in the first half, making 4/4 two-pointers and 2/2 free throws.
Côte d'Ivoire found their range
Ulrich Krah sparked the Elephants early in the first quarter, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers.
However, the team went through a cold stretch until Nisre Zouzoua found his rhythm from beyond the arc in the second quarter, draining key threes to extend Côte d'Ivoire's lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Elephants had shot 7-of-16 from three-point range.
Côte d'Ivoire forward Jean Phillipe Dally, who scored 15 points, says playing better defence turned things around for them in the second quarter.
"We started playing defence. Everybody played defence. Congo started the game very well, but we showed that we are a team. If you see some of their players over twenty minutes, but we had the energy for defence because we are a team," said Dally.
Making Congo pay for their lack of discipline
When the Ivorians took control of the game in the second quarter, which impacted the morale of the Congolese, leading to lapses in concentration and fouls. The Leopards committed personal fouls and turned the ball over 25 times. Collectively had 25 personal fouls.
The win gives Côte d'Ivoire a good start to their qualifying campaign, and they will look to finish on a perfect note against Madagascar on Sunday.
FIBA