May 16, 2025

Can these 2025 BAL season records be broken in the Nile Conference?

A lot has already happened in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season. With only twelve games left in the regular season, the question on everyone's mind is whether new statistical records will be set before the playoffs in June.

A select group of players delivered staggering performances in the first 24 games of the 2024 BAL season, etching their names and stats into the league's record books.

The Nile Conference, which will take place from Saturday, May 17, to Sunday, May 25, looks promising, as there is a large pool of players capable of surpassing their limits to help their teams advance beyond Kigali.

Below is a list of season records set during the first two conferences held in Rabat and Dakar, respectively.

MOST POINTS SCORED IN A GAME

*Patrick Hardy Jr #10 of U.S. Monastir shoots the ball during the game against ASC Ville de Dakar during the Sahara Conference Group on April 24, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

29 is the number to beat.

Patrick McGlynn sat out Kriol Star’s first two Sahara Conference games due to injury. However, he scored a conference-high 29 points to lead Kriol Star to a 95-92 overtime win over ASC Ville de Dakar on May 1.

However, Patrick Hardy Jr. matched McGlynn’s record by leading US Monastir to a 91-83 victory over Kriol Star. No other player has come close to scoring that many points in a single game.

Mr. DOUBLE-DOUBLE

*Ivan Freitas Almeida #23 of the Kriol Star looks on during the game against Petro de Luanda during the Sahara Conference Group on April 26, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

Ivan Almeida was one of the reasons the short-handed Kriol Stars stunned many in the Sahara Conference and secured a spot in next month's playoffs in Pretoria.

Almeida, who played in the first round of the Road to BAL qualifiers for Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, registered four double-doubles in six games in Dakar, the most by any player so far.

FIELD-GOALS

*Yanick Moreira #2 of Petro de Luanda drives to the basket during the game against ASC Ville de Dakar during the Sahara Conference Group on April 29, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

Although Al Ittihad guard Youssef Aboushousha recorded a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance, Petro de Luanda’s Yanick Moreira went one better, shooting 7-for-8 to finish with 16 points and eight rebounds in a 103-74 win over Kriol Star.

Osiris Eldridge was the only other player to come close to Moreira’s mark, shooting 8-for-10 against Petro de Luanda.

MOST THREE-POINTS IN A GAME

Osiris Eldridge #15 of U.S. Monastir handles the ball during the game against ASC Ville de Dakar handles the ball during the game during the Sahara Conference Group on April 24, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.

Osiris Eldridge, a guard for US Monastir, set a season record for the most three-pointers made in a single game. He shot 7-for-9 from deep, finishing with 23 points and leading his team to an 87-73 victory over the reigning champions, Petro de Luanda.

MOST FREE-THROWS

Opponents learned one thing from former NBA player George King: avoid fouling the Al Ittihad guard when he has a shooting opportunity.

King set the record for the most free-throws made in a single game, shooting 11 for 11 and finishing with 23 points in a 100–80 win over the Rivers Hoopers.

MOST ASSISTS

*Childe Dundao #5 of Petro de Luanda brings the ball up court during the game against the Kriol Star during the Sahara Conference Group on April 26, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal*

He may be small in stature, but he's a giant on the basketball court.

Earlier this month in Dakar, Childe Dundao had a season-high 13 assists to help Petro de Luanda beat Kriol Star 103-74 in the Sahara Conference opener.

REBOUNDING RECORD

*Peter Olisemeka #14 of the Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club dunks the ball during the game against the Al Ittihad Alexandria during the Basketball Africa League game on April 8, 2025 Rabat, Morocco.*

Rivers Hoopers power forward Peter Olisemeka is a force of nature on the basketball court. This was made even more evident when he set a season record for the most rebounds in a single game.

He finished with 17 rebounds in a 94-77 loss to Al Ittihad.

STEALS RECORD

It’s common for a seven-footer to excel in the paint, but setting a record with five steals in a single game? That’s a novelty. That’s exactly what Al Ittihad’s Anas Mahmoud achieved in their 100-80 win over Rivers Hoopers. That mark is now a season record.

MOST BLOCK SHOTS IN A GAME

Anas Mahmoud, winner of the 2022 BAL Defensive Player of the Year award, set a season high with three blocked shots to help Al Ittihad beat Stade Malien 72-69.

PLAYING TIME

*Anderson Correia #12 of Kriol Star Basketball dunks the ball during the game against Petro de Luanda during the Sahara Conference Group on May 4, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio,*

A desperate Kriol Star needed its shorthanded roster to do the impossible to qualify for the postseason, and Anderson Correia made his presence felt in style.

Not only did Correia lead the Creoles in scoring with a team-high 16 points, but he also stayed on the floor for the entire 45 minutes to help Kriol Star defeat Petro de Luanda 71-69 in overtime.

Correia is the only player in BAL history to play a full 45-minute overtime game.