Results
M: Miracle 87-79 UCU
W: Mak Sparks 50-63 KIU
Today at YMCA
M: Ndejje v Power (7.30pm)
W: Amazon v UCU (5.30pm)
Division 2
Rez Life v St. Michael (3.30pm)
Gulu v Riders (9.30am)
Division 3
Bush Court v Ssaku (1.30pm)
Shooters v Jammers(11.30am)
Emperors v K’la Univ. (9.30am)
UCU Canons might soon need to employ desperate measures if they are to earn an MTN-Fuba League play-offs slot.
After Miracle Eagles handed them a third straight defeat at YMCA court on Friday night, coach Nick Natuhereza was very honest about the challenge that lies ahead. “Right now I cannot be thinking about play-offs.
There’s a lot to sort out first,” Natuhereza told Sunday Monitor after his team’s dispiriting 87-79 loss. His solutions stretch beyond the board contest which Miracle bossed 23-15. The manner in which they fold in the fourth quarter causes major concern.
Despite failing to match Stephen Omony in the first three periods when he made most of his 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, they were never too far behind. UCU, losing semifinalists from last year, took the first 24-14. Miracle hit back 24-15 in second while the third was tied 17-17. They folded thereafter.
Clutch shooting from guard Colin Mukiza (17) was key to the late Miracle surge to cruise home 32-23 in the fourth. Natuhereza thinks the slow start hurt them here. “I changed to a small running team (for the final period) to counter them because our big men were not being challenged too much,” Joe Burua, the Miracle coach, said. Norman Blick showed peeks of an imminent return to form with 25 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Sudi Ulanga made 31 points for UCU but his eight turnovers betrayed him, rendering the contribution of Martin Okwako (16) and Geoffrey Omondi (12) insufficient. “Small mistakes and our execution in offense are letting us down,” Natuhereza summed it up.