Game Report: Al Ahly Tripoli dominated Mali champions Stade Malien 85-66 in the Road to BAL 2025 opener. Despite Stade Malien's resilience, Al Ahly's Micheal Eric starred with 23 points, leading his team to a convincing victory in front of a passionate home crowd.
Last Updated on
October 12, 2024
In a commanding display, local favourites Al Ahly Tripoli overwhelmed Mali champions Stade Malien 85-66 in the Road to BAL 2025 Tournament opening game, held in front of a raucous home crowd in Libya. From the outset, Al Ahly asserted their dominance, scoring an impressive 32 points in the first quarter while restricting Stade Malien to a mere 11 points.
Though Stade Malien showed some fight-back in the second and third quarters, managing to outscore Al Ahly 21-14 and 21-15, respectively, they could not regain control of the game. By the start of the fourth quarter, the score stood at 61-52 in favour of Al Ahly, who knew they had to close out the game decisively. They did just that, scoring 21 points in the final period while limiting Stade Malien to just 14 points.
Nigerian national Micheal Eric was rightly awarded the MVP honours for Al Ahly Tripoli, delivering a stellar performance with 23 points, six rebounds, and four blocks, shooting an impressive 77% from the floor. He was well-supported by Cape Verdean star Ivan Almeida, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Stade Malien initially opened the game with a 5-0 run, but that was the last time they held any control as Al Ahly quickly took charge. A flurry of three-pointers from Naseim Ismail Salem Badrush, Almeida, and a layup from Walter Hodge sparked a decisive turnaround. Hodge's three-pointer at the 6:22 mark of the first period gave Al Ahly the lead at 11-7, and they never looked back.
Al Ahly's largest lead swelled to 24 points, bolstered by a stunning 16-0 scoring run. The home side shot 52.9% from inside the arc and 33.3% from long range, while Stade Malien struggled to find their rhythm, managing a dismal 14.3% from beyond the arc—an alarming statistic they will need to address before their next matchup.
Despite their struggles, Stade Malien showcased some defensive prowess, racking 12 steals and capitalising on turnovers to score 23 points off Al Ahly's mistakes. However, they were outmatched on the boards, with Al Ahly dominating the rebounding battle 56-44 and recording 24 assists compared to Stade Malien's 21.
Al Ahly's big men proved formidable, rejecting seven shots in the paint, but Stade Malien still managed to score 44 points inside. The Tripoli-based squad's bench made a significant contribution, adding 36 points to secure the convincing victory.
This win sets a strong tone for Al Ahly Tripoli as they embark on their Road to BAL 2025 journey, solidifying their status as contenders in this prestigious tournament.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
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