The Nigerian men’s basketball team defeated their Croatian counterparts 90-76 in the ongoing Rio Olympics games
Nigeria earned their first win at the 2016 Olympic Basketball Tournament by pulling off the biggest upset to date in the competition.
With the victory, the African champions improved to 1-3 to keep alive their hopes of advancing to the Quarter-Finals.
Croatia, meanwhile, dropped to 2-2.
Nigeria led most of the game, initially on the back of its point guard, Michael Umeh, who finished with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, all from the arc.
By game’s end, Overall, Nigeria shot 17-of-36 from deep, compared to Croatia’s 6-of-28.
They also outrebounded Croatia, 45-32, including 17-12 on the offensive boards.
Croatia led 28-21 at the end the first quarter but Nigeria outscored them 22-11 in the second to take a 43-39 half-time lead.
Michael Umeh hit 5-of-8 three-pointers for 16 points first half points.
Nigeria’s hot shooting from long range continued in the third quarter as they hit 4-of-7 attempts and saw their lead reach 50-35 when big man Ike Diogu connected from beyond the arc.
An 8-0 run spanning the end of the 3rd quarter and start of the 4th enabled Croatia to cut the deficit to single digits, 70-61.
They would get within 74-71 on a Bojan Bogdanovic free-throw with 4:14 left to play.
But down the stretch Josh Akognon and Ebi Ere hit clutch three-pointers to secure the impressive win.
To say that three-point shooting was a big part of Nigeria’s win is an understatement.
They shot 17-of-36 (47 percent) from beyond the arc. By comparison, they were 13-of-32 (41 percent) inside the arc.
A win Saturday night would have virtually clinched a place in pool play for Bojan Bogdanovic and his Croatian teammates.
But they were out hustled and out shot by Nigeria, 90-76, in Rio.
Bogdanovic scored 28 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep. He also shot 8-of-11 from the stripe.
The rest of the red-and-white shot 18-of-50 and the Croatians’ two other NBA players, Mario Hezonja and Dario Saric, finished with a combined 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
In the second half, Croatia decided to ride Bogdanovic and he got his team within three points midway in the fourth.
But poor defense, including some by the Nets shooting guard, hurt them late.
As John Schuhmann writes, the loss complicates Group B, which includes both Croatia and Argentina.
The final four teams that will move on to pool play next week won’t be known until after Monday’s games.
Croatia plays Lithuanian late Monday night.
This has to rank as Nigeria’s biggest win at the world level since they surprised Greece, 80-79, at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Heading into their final game against hosts Brazil on the back of this win can only do their confidence a world of good.
Croatia will face European rivals Lithuania.
Whether or not they reach the Quarter-Finals may be dictated by more than the result of their game.
men’s basketball team defeated their Croatian counterparts 90-76 in the ongoing Rio Olympics games and earned their first win after 3 losses
© Copyright 2015 www.elombah.com. Send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to publisher@elombah.com; follow us on twitter handle @Elombah; like our Facebook page: “Elombah.com”.