Third-Quarter Run Sends Bahrain Past Saudi Arabia
TDT | Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
A poor start by Bahrain counted for little after a 36-point third quarter on Friday sent them to a 100-86 win over Saudi Arabia in Doha, their second victory in as many nights.
Saudi Arabia led 26-21 after the first quarter. Bahrain answered with a 25-18 second period to go into half-time 46-44 ahead.
The game then swung hard their way.
Bahrain outscored Saudi Arabia 36-14 in the third, stretching a two-point lead to 82-58 with 10 minutes to play.
Saudi Arabia won the last quarter 28-18 but never got close enough to threaten Bahrain’s lead.
Mustafa Rashed led the scoring with 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes.
JaKarr Sampson added 14 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes, while Elijah Thomas also scored 14, with seven rebounds and three steals in only 15 minutes.
Ahmed Salman had 10 points.
Ali Kadhem came close to a triple-double, finishing with seven points, nine rebounds and nine assists in 22 minutes.
Ahmed Bindayneh scored six, while Mohamed Buallay had three points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks.
The win came a day after Bahrain beat hosts Qatar 76-69, leaving them unbeaten from their two games in the three-team Doha tournament.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia meet on Saturday in the last match.
The Doha games are Bahrain’s last match practice before the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 pre-qualifiers in the UAE.
Bahrain are in a group with the UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Nepal and face Oman first on August 27.
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