Randall scores his fourth 30-plus points of the season as RSSB beat Rabat

Teafale Lenard Jr. is so confident that RSSB Tigers will advance to the semifinals of the 2026 BAL season that he suggested he may not be needed for Sunday's second and final game of the playoff series against FUS Rabat.

An ankle injury limited the 6-foot-9 swingman to just 8 minutes and 51 seconds in the first half, as RSSB beat FUS Rabat 95–72 on Friday. 

This 23-point victory marked the return of Lenard Jr, who played his first BAL game since helping the RSSB Tigers beat Petro de Luanda in Pretoria on 29 March.

He shot 3-for-5 from the floor, finishing with nine points.

However, Lenard Jr. said that the reason for the RSBB Tigers’ win was his teammate, Craig Randall.

“Craig woke up,” he told BAL.NBA.COM on his way to the locker room on crutches.

“Once he wakes up there is nobody that can really beat us. Once I am fully healthy, that’s two dangers people on the court,” an elated Leonard added. 

For most of the first half, FUS Rabat appeared to be within reach of RSSB, but a sloppy final five minutes, during which they allowed a 14-4 scoring run, proved too much to overcome.

FUS Rabat arrived in Kigali looking to bounce back from their double overtime loss to Al Ahly in Rabat on the last day of the Sahara Conference three weeks ago. 

However, playing without Will Perry and Abdoulaye Harouna, the team’s leading scorer, limited their chances.

Meanwhile, to the delight of their home fans, who filled almost every seat of the BK Arena, the RSSB Tigers led from start to finish. 

Their fans celebrated every dunk and three-pointer, as well as some spectacular plays performed by their heroes on the court.

“They beat them without me today, so, I feel like they are going to do it again,” said Teafale Lenard Jr. 

“I sprained my ankle, but I will be alright for Sunday; if not, I will be ready for Wednesday,” he added. 

But the night belonged to Craig Randall once again.

The left-handed guard shot 11-for-28 from the floor, including 6-for-19 from deep, to finish with 38 points. 

This was the fourth time in five games that Leonard had scored over 37 points. 

Not even Kuany Atem Kuany’s 12 points and nine rebounds could save FUS Rabat.  To make matters worse, their bench was outscored 41–21.

“Unlike us, the other team had their full squad, and they were more ready than us,” said FUS Rabat forward Ilias Aqboub, who finished 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Aqboub insisted that there is still hope. “This is not the end of the road for us yet. If [Will] Perry is fit for our next game, that would give us a major boost, and I think we can still win this series. We just need to stay focused and stick to our game plan.”

For FUS Rabat (3-3) to advance to the semifinals, they must win by 23 points or more against RSBB (5-1) on Sunday.

BAL