Maluach’s City Oilers shock reigning champions Al Ahly SC

Al Ahly SC forward Patrick Gardner doesn’t believe they underestimated City Oilers as they dropped their first game of the 2024 Nile Conference.

The defending champions had an 8-point advantage (64-58) at the end of the third quarter, but the Oilers used a 10-0 run midway through the final quarter to win 82-81 and cause the biggest upset of the conference so far.

“I don’t think we underestimated them but we have to realize it’s a 40-minute game,” said Gardner who finished with team-highs of 19 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.

He continued: “We let up at the end.. and they hit some big shots. We shouldn’t be surprised, it’s a good team. [but] The beauty of this is that we’ve got two more games and we can bounce back.”

City Oilers entered this must-win game with their backs against the wall, but they never contemplated dropping their fourth game in a row.

“The message was never to give up,” Oilers head coach Karim Nesba said.

The Ugandan champions fought tooth and nail and their resilience was epitomized by a Dane Miller’s tap-in which tied the game at 77-77 with 2:03 minutes left.

Ehab Amin sank a three-pointer and converted a free-throw that gave the hosts an 81-79 lead, but, in a turn of events, Randy Culpepper’s lay-up, which was followed by a free-throw, eventually determined the 82-81 final score.

Khaman Maluach recorded his third straight double-double of the season, finishing with 27 points and 16 rebounds; Culpepper added 20 points; Miller contributed 14 and City Oilers improved to 1-3 with two games remaining.

For the second season in a row, City Oilers recorded their first win after starting the conference with a three-game losing streak.

And, for the second time in a row, Al Ahly SC lost a home game by one point, since losing 91-90 to Petro de Luanda last season.

Al Ahly SC, who are now 7-2 at home, return to action on Friday to take on Al Ahly Ly while City Oilers will go up against Bangui Sporting Club.