Arthur Kaluma
Photo by: FIBA
Uganda Falls To South Sudan But Advances to Bracket Play at AfroBasket
8/29/2021 1:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton's Arthur Kaluma had 14 points for Uganda
KIGALI, Rwanda -- Creighton freshman Arthur Kaluma overcame early foul trouble to finish with 14 points but it wasn't enough as Uganda surrendered a game-ending 5-0 run and suffered an 88-86 loss to South Sudan at FIBA AfroBasket 2021 on Sunday in Kigali, Rwanda.
Kaluma picked up a pair of fouls in the opening minutes and spent much of the first quarter on the bench. He scored seven points in the third quarter as Uganda overcame a 50-44 halftime hole to even the score at 65 heading to the fourth quarter.
The teams exchanged leads five times in the fourth quarter, and Kaluma sank two clutch free throws with 1:04 left to put his team in front, 86-83. But South Sudan, making its first appearance at AfroBasket, ended the game on a 5-0 run to pick up the victory.
Kaluma finished with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 27 minutes of action. He made 5-of-16 field goal attempts and was 4-of-5 at the charity stripe. Through three games at AfroBasket 2021, Kaluma is averaging 11.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Uganda coach George Galanopoulos was quick to praise Kaluma following the game, despite his forward's rough shooting night. "I've never seen a 19-year old kid work the way this kid does. Honest to God, he's the first one in the gym that laces up his shoes. Everybody likes to take their time. This guy's the first one out getting shots up. If we didn't have to get on the bus and get kicked out of the gym because other teams were playing, he would be there all day and night. That's just how he is, that's his DNA. I've got faith in him to figure it out as well. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and we're very lucky to have him."
Former Baylor guard Ish Wainright, who recently signed with the Toronto Raptors, had a triple-double for Uganda and finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Wainright missed a turnaround jumper in the final seconds that could have given Uganda the lead.
South Sudan was paced by Dhieu Deing's 22 points while big man Deng Acuoth finished with 13 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Uganda entered the game with the No. 90 FIBA World Ranking, four spots ahead of South Sudan.
With the loss, Uganda will finish in third place in Group D and next face Nigeria as bracket play commences. Nigeria is ranked No. 23 in the world and beat eventual Olympic Gold Medalist United States in a tune-up for Tokyo in July, but all eight players with NBA experience from that team pulled out of AfroBasket play to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.
The Uganda/Nigeria winner will face Group A champion Cape Verde, a team Uganda beat previously in the AfroBasket qualifiers.
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Kaluma picked up a pair of fouls in the opening minutes and spent much of the first quarter on the bench. He scored seven points in the third quarter as Uganda overcame a 50-44 halftime hole to even the score at 65 heading to the fourth quarter.
The teams exchanged leads five times in the fourth quarter, and Kaluma sank two clutch free throws with 1:04 left to put his team in front, 86-83. But South Sudan, making its first appearance at AfroBasket, ended the game on a 5-0 run to pick up the victory.
Kaluma finished with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 27 minutes of action. He made 5-of-16 field goal attempts and was 4-of-5 at the charity stripe. Through three games at AfroBasket 2021, Kaluma is averaging 11.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Uganda coach George Galanopoulos was quick to praise Kaluma following the game, despite his forward's rough shooting night. "I've never seen a 19-year old kid work the way this kid does. Honest to God, he's the first one in the gym that laces up his shoes. Everybody likes to take their time. This guy's the first one out getting shots up. If we didn't have to get on the bus and get kicked out of the gym because other teams were playing, he would be there all day and night. That's just how he is, that's his DNA. I've got faith in him to figure it out as well. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and we're very lucky to have him."
Former Baylor guard Ish Wainright, who recently signed with the Toronto Raptors, had a triple-double for Uganda and finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Wainright missed a turnaround jumper in the final seconds that could have given Uganda the lead.
South Sudan was paced by Dhieu Deing's 22 points while big man Deng Acuoth finished with 13 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Uganda entered the game with the No. 90 FIBA World Ranking, four spots ahead of South Sudan.
With the loss, Uganda will finish in third place in Group D and next face Nigeria as bracket play commences. Nigeria is ranked No. 23 in the world and beat eventual Olympic Gold Medalist United States in a tune-up for Tokyo in July, but all eight players with NBA experience from that team pulled out of AfroBasket play to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.
The Uganda/Nigeria winner will face Group A champion Cape Verde, a team Uganda beat previously in the AfroBasket qualifiers.
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Players Mentioned
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