Bright Akhuetie finally put up his first bucket as Nigeria cruised past Uganda in the 2023 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers with a 95-69 victory, Monday morning (Manila time) in Benguela, Angola.
Akhuetie, the UAAP Season 81 Most Valuable Player, played 16 minutes in the contest, scoring two points, grabbing two rebounds, and stealing the ball twice.
His first-ever field goal made for the D’Tigers came with 2:31 left, scoring off a find from Amanze Egekeze that put Nigeria up 89-64.
Dominant were Nigeria in the game, blowing the game wide open in the second frame.
Ike Diogu scored nine of Nigeria’s 28 second quarter points that put them up 53-37 at the half.
Nigeria would lead by as much as 29 points in the final frame.
Diogu had 27 points on 6-of-7 shooting from deep with 10 rebounds.
Omotayo Jordan Ogundiran and Keith Omoerah both had 11 points apiece while Ben Uzoh got 10 points and eight assists.
Nigeria went up to 2-1 in the first round of the Qualifiers and will return in July to face Cape Verde, Mali, and Uganda anew.
The top three teams in Pool A will advance to the second round.
Uganda, who fell to 1-2, was led by Brandon Davies, who had 22 points on 20 attempts with six rebounds and two steals.
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