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BASKETBALL – Hosts Bahrain pulled off a stunning 91-85 victory over defending champions Egypt last night in the 26th Arab Men’s Basketball Championship 2025.
The kingdom’s senior men’s basketball national team put in a sensational performance to topple the African giants and end a two-game losing streak, reviving their hopes of making it onto the podium with their second win.
Superstar point guard Mustafa Hussain buried a corner three-pointer with just under three minutes remaining to give the Bahrainis the lead for good at 80-79.
A JaKarr Sampson and-one on an emphatic slam dunk then made it 87-81, and after Egypt sank four straight free-throws to get to within two, Hussain buried a pair of his own pressure-packed charity shots with 13.6 seconds to go to help secure the victory.
Hussain’s brother Ali Hussain pegged the final score with an uncontested lay-up right before the buzzer, while handing the Egyptians their first loss in three outings.
“We said before we came to this game that we have to fight, so everybody did that and put everything they had, and alhamdulallah we won,” Hussain told the GDN after the contest.
“We have two more games to play, and we will plan our best to win both.”
Bahrain are not in action today and are set to return to the hardwood on Friday at 8pm against Algeria, which will be their penultimate fixture. They then wrap up their campaign on the championship’s final day on Saturday against Kuwait, also at 8pm.
Hussain and Sampson combined for 55 of Bahrain’s total output. Sampson had a game-high 28 points to go with nine rebounds, while Hussain finished with 27, including a red-hot seven three-pointers.
Ahmed Bindayneh chipped in with 10 markers in the win, while both Mohammed Buallay and Ali Hussain added seven points apiece. Ali Hussain made some key contributions down the stretch, including two free-throws with a minute-and-a-half to go to keep the nationals in front.
Mazen Mohamed was the top scorer for Egypt with 19 in the loss, while skipper Ebrahim Amin added 17. The Egyptians face off with Tunisia in a crucial encounter slated for 8pm tonight.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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