The KIU Titans endured a spine-tingling end to the regular season, narrowly defeating the Kampala Rockets 64-61 at YMCA court on Saturday evening.
The Titans led 57-43 at the end of the third quarter but struggled in the fourth, scoring only seven points compared to the Rockets’ 18. Despite the late surge from the Rockets, the Titans held on to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
Juf Mpiya posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Edgar Munaba returned to form, scoring the game’s highest with 21 points. Captain Collins Kasujja played a crucial role, contributing nine points, five rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
The Titans finished the regular season second in the NBL-Men’s table with a 17-5 record from 22 games. They will face JT Jaguars who seventh in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
Coach Lutwama expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance despite the win, stating, “It was a very poor game for us. You can’t lead from the beginning and end up struggling to win a game on the line. It’s simply not a good show for us.”
He emphasized the need to address issues before the playoffs.
Captain Kasujja shared his relief at ending the regular season with a victory but acknowledged the team’s lapses, especially in the fourth quarter.
“We had so many lapses, especially in the fourth quarter, and this brought the opponent back in the game. But thanks, we fought hard and secured the win.”
