Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship: Rivers Hoopers emerge victorious over Energie

Rivers Hoopers survived a late scare to beat Energie of Benin Republic 64-59 in their last Group B game of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship in Lagos.

Buchi Nwaiwu scored 12 points while Samuel Sani added 10 points for the KingsMen.

Hoopers scored five 3s and shot 12-of-14 from the free throw line, which was pivotal to their win.

The KingsMen, who held an 18-point lead at the end of the third quarter, struggled at both ends of the floor in the fourth.

Energie outscored the Nigerian champions 28-15 in the last quarter. The Beninese team knocked down four-threes in the last three minutes of the game.

For a second consecutive game, Michael Daramola came through for the KingsMen as he scored back-to-back points (4) to stretch the lead to 11 (62-51) with 1:44 left.

An 8-2 run by Energie in the last few seconds reduced the deficit to 5 points.

Rivers Hoopers finished with a 4-0 in the group stage while Energie finished with a 2-2 mark.

Rivers Hoopers will play Spintex Knights in a repeat of last year’s semifinals while ASPAC will face Police Batons on Friday. The Ghanaian team defeated Hoopers in the last edition.