Ghana’s representative in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Spintex Knights, have missed out on a win in their opening game of the NBA-backed competition at the preliminary stage.
Knights lost 66-73 to Cote D’Ivoire’s Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan in Abidjan in the Group B matchup in the West Division of the continental tournament.
Knights are aiming to qualify to the main competition which commences next year with Al-Ahli Benghazi of Libya as defending champions.
Reigning Accra Basketball League (ABL) Men’s Division I Champions, Knights, had a tepid start to the game and trailed 23-10 at the end of the first quarter and 28-22 at the end of the second quarter but had a better output in the second half.
Knights closed out the game with a 20-11 third quarter lead and a 14-11 fourth quarter result but that proved not enough to score a win.
Shooting Guard James Amotoe, who excelled in Knights’ debut run in the competition last season, led the team with 24 points, two rebounds and five assists in 34:06 minutes.
Khyree Malik Temple added 19 points and four rebounds in 24:19 minutes as the only player to score in double figures for Spintex aside Amotoe.
Knights next take on LPRC Oilers from Liberia on Saturday, October 18 at 16:30 GMT. LPRC lost their opening game 75-69 to Elan Cotton from Benin.
