Venue: UEA Sportspark
Date: 14th March 2010
Competition: Founders Cup Quarter Final
UEA Team:
D Khomba
W Wei
A Pearce
T Moyo
A Shogbeni
S Rotherham
T Orogun
J McGowan
W Kricka
B Zimpel
C Watkins
Match Report: UEA went into their game against Ealing hoping to extend their best ever run in a national competition and get to the semi-finals of the Founders Cup. The visitors started well, playing with a controlled set-driven style that was obviously well-drilled. Looking to take advantage of backdoor cuts at every opportunity, Ealing got out to an early lead and were playing smart half-court basketball. UEA took a while to get going but starting moving the ball with greater purpose in the second quarter and pulled the game back within 6 at halftime.
The story of the first half was the cold-blooded shooting of Ealing’s point guard, hitting 3-3 from long range and demanding constant close attention from the Panthers defense. Ealing once again pulled away early in the third behind some sloppy help defense from UEA and a huge number of offensive rebounds, both of which led to the home team getting in some serious foul trouble. Influential guard Dan Khomba controversially fouled out of the game mid-way through the 4th quarter with the home team down.
Imposing center Tega Orogun (himself playing with 4 fouls) and explosive wing Abiola Shogbeni were able to take the game back to the visitors by attacking the basket numerous times for the basket and the foul. UEA’s free-throw shooting was much improved from Wednesday’s dire effort from the line away at Essex however it was not enough to save the Panthers from falling to a narrow three-point defeat at the hands of the visiting Londoners.
