Madut Akec [1296x729]
Madut Akec [1296x729] (Credit: Nacer Talel/NBAE via Getty Images)

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DAKAR, Senegal -- Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers suffered their first Basketball Africa League defeat of the season on Thursday night, losing 56-54 to Senegal's AS Douanes in the final seconds, and thus fell short of wrapping up a playoff spot with two games to spare.

The arena largely filled up for the low-scoring game and Douanes put on a show for a passionate home crowd in the first quarter, taking a 14-5 lead, before Hoopers began to chip away at the deficit.

A stubborn Douanes defence held out initially and they still led 33-26 at half-time, but deep in the third quarter, a Kelvin Amayo three-pointer gave Rivers Hoopers a 37-36 lead. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Nigerian champions led 41-40.

Peter Olisemeka was instrumental in the Port Harcourt-based side's efforts and he made a big block on Ibrahima Thomas to keep Rivers Hoopers 48-47 to the good as the clock wound down. However, Abdoulaye Harouna managed to sink a three-pointer for Douanes shortly thereafter and the crowd erupted.

Madut Akec, who was arguably the night's standout player, then tipped a shot that had bounced off the rim into the basket to give Douanes some breathing space.

However, Rivers Hoopers rallied back after a timeout and a free throw from Olisemeka tied the game at 52-52 in the dying seconds.

The teams traded shots back and forth. Harouna sank two free throws only for Rivers Hoopers to level again at 54-54 with less than four seconds to spare through a Will Perry free throw.

The game was decided off the last shot as a late buzzer-beating two from Mike Fofana wrapped up the win for Douanes. Akec's 17 points and 8 rebounds and Harouna's 15 points proved decisive too.

Rivers Hoopers still top the Sahara Conference after four games for each participating team. They have three wins, with APR and Douanes each on two and Monastir one.

In the earlier game, Tunisia's US Monastir got their first win in four matches, beating Rwanda's APR 83-70. Monastir had fallen so far from the heights they scaled in their 2022 championship-winning season that they were barely recognisable.

Monastir fought back from a 10-point deficit towards the end of the first quarter, however, and at the break, APR led 22-19.

Chris Crawford led the scoring for the Tunisian champions, who continued their fightback in the second quarter and took the lead at one point only for APR to claw their way into a 37-36 half-time advantage.

Dario Hunt led the charge for APR as they extended their lead to 54-50 at the end of the third quarter, but Monastir - having scored the last two points of the third quarter - scored the first 11 in the fourth.

Ultimately, APR were unable to snatch momentum back and Monastir claimed an 83-70 win from behind, meaning that Rivers Hoopers had to beat AS Douanes to be assured of their playoff spot ahead of the final two matchdays. Crawford starred for Monastir with 31 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds.