There’s officially no more unbeaten team in the Uganda National Basketball League (NBL), not in the men’s or women’s category.
That reality hit hard on Friday night at the MTN Arena, Lugogo, where Uganda Christian University (UCU) Canons pulled off a stunning upset, handing Namuwongo Blazers their first loss of the season with a razor-thin 62-61 win.
With just seconds left and the Blazers clinging to a 61-59 lead, Marvin Jesse Okurut rose up and drained a cold-blooded three from downtown to snatch victory at the buzzer.
The arena erupted. Blazers were stunned. The Canons celebrated like it was a playoff win, and rightly so.
Game of Runs
From tip-off, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for Namuwongo.
UCU came out with intent, executing on both ends and closing the first quarter up 16-13.
But as expected, the Blazers responded in the second. Their ball movement improved, and they took advantage of UCU’s turnovers to grab a 13-18 quarter advantage and a 31-29 halftime lead.
UCU, however, came out of the locker room with fire. They flipped the momentum again, locking in defensively and winning the third quarter 15-11, reclaiming the lead at 44-42 heading into the fourth.
The Blazers, known for their clutch play, rallied once more in the final frame, outscoring UCU 19-18.
With time winding down, they looked poised to survive another scare. But Okutut had other plans.
With ice in his veins, he pulled up from deep and hit the game-winning triple, a shot now etched into the Canons’ highlight reel for years to come.
End of the Streak
For the Blazers, this was more than just a loss. It was their first L of the season, snapping a perfect 16-0 start.
Coming into the game, their biggest test had been a pulse-pounding 81-80 win over rivals City Oilers in the season opener.
They had also taken care of UCU in their first-round meeting, cruising to an 82-72 win.
But this time around, UCU flipped the script, and did it in style.
Standings Check
Despite the loss, the Nam Blazers remain on top of the standings with 33 points from 19 games.
UCU sit third with 29 points from 18 games, and now, they’ve got momentum on their side.
Coming Up
The Blazers will look to bounce back when they host seventh-placed Sommet on Sunday, June 29, a side that has shown grit in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the Canons are on the road to face the KIU Titans, a team that’s also fighting to climb up the table.
Writer’s Note
This was more than just a regular season win, it was a statement. UCU didn’t just compete with the league’s top seed, they took them down. And they did it in the most dramatic way possible.
