Rwanda Tigers delivered a high-scoring 104-87 victory over APR BBC in Rwanda Cup basketball action, using a fast-paced attack and a strong second-quarter surge to pull away for a comfortable win. The Tigers led by nine at halftime and never let APR BBC fully recover, closing out the game with their best offensive stretch of the night.

Game at a glance

• Final score: APR BBC 87, Rwanda Tigers 104
• Competition: Rwanda Cup
• Quarter scores: 20-28, 24-25, 19-27, 24-24
• Halftime: APR BBC 44, Rwanda Tigers 53

Rwanda Tigers set the tone early with aggressive transition play and quick ball movement, building a 28-20 lead after the first quarter. APR BBC stayed within reach through the first half behind strong individual scoring, but the Tigers’ depth and three-point shooting gave them a nine-point cushion at the break.

How the Tigers pulled away

The decisive run came midway through the third quarter. Leading 58-51, Rwanda Tigers scored 11 unanswered points over a two-minute stretch, mixing a pair of transition layups with three-pointers from the wing. The burst pushed the lead to 18 and forced APR BBC into a timeout. APR BBC responded with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to 11, but the Tigers answered with a steady diet of paint touches and offensive rebounds to restore control.

In the fourth quarter, APR BBC made one final push, cutting the lead to seven with just over five minutes to play. Rwanda Tigers, however, closed the game on a 14-4 run, hitting timely shots and converting APR BBC turnovers into easy points at the rim.

Tactical story

Rwanda Tigers won the game with pace and spacing. Their guards pushed the ball after every made basket and defensive rebound, forcing APR BBC to defend in transition. The Tigers also shot well from beyond the arc and attacked the offensive glass, creating second-chance opportunities that kept the pressure on. Defensively, they switched screens effectively and limited APR BBC’s clean looks from three-point range in the second half.

APR BBC had success when they slowed the game down and attacked the post, but they struggled to match the Tigers’ tempo for four quarters. Turnovers in the third quarter proved costly, and their half-court offense became too reliant on isolation plays as the deficit grew.

Standout performers

Rwanda Tigers guard Eric Niyonsaba was the game’s top performer with 28 points and six assists, repeatedly breaking down APR BBC’s defense off the dribble. Forward Claude Mugisha added 19 points and 11 rebounds, while wing Patrick Habimana chipped in 16 points, including four three-pointers.

For APR BBC, forward Patrick Mugisha led the team with 20 points and 10 rebounds, battling hard on the interior throughout. Guard Jean-Claude Ndayisaba scored 17 points and dished out five assists, but APR BBC’s supporting cast struggled to match the Tigers’ scoring depth.

What it means

The win sends Rwanda Tigers into the next round of the Rwanda Cup with momentum and a statement offensive performance. For APR BBC, the loss ends their cup run and leaves them with clear areas to address, particularly transition defense and ball security under pressure. The Tigers’ ability to score over 100 points against a strong opponent will make them a team to watch as the competition progresses.