Basketball: D’Tigers lose to Australia 108-69

The Nigerian basketball team D’Tigers have lost their last exhibition game heading into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as they fell to a 108-69 against Australia.  

Heading into the game, D’Tigers had been riding on a high with impressive wins over number one ranked USA and number four ranked Argentina. 

But the team fell to its first defeat since coach Mike Brown took over in 2020, thus reshaping expectations from the only African basketball team. 

The Aussies displayed grit and technical prowess as they swept D’Tigers apart in the first quarter taking a 13-point lead to end 26-13. The third ranked nation in the world continued their dominance in the second quarter ending with a comfortable 20-point lead – 49-29. 

The Australians opened a 38-point lead to end the quarter 84-46, then clocking the 100-point mark to win by 39 points ending the game 108-69. 

The Australians made it three wins in a row with Chris Gouding scoring 21 points, three rebounds and four steals. He hit 100 per cent accuracy from the three-point line making all seven attempts. 

Josh Okogie and Obi Emegano led D’Tigers in scoring with 10 points a piece while Jahlil Okafor had seven points and five rebounds and Ike Iroegbu also scored seven points in a game they will want to forget in a hurry. 

The D’Tigers will be hoping to get revenge when they face the Aussies at the Olympics group stage on July 25.