RABAT (Morocco) - Four years ago, South Sudan had to wait until the last minute to book their place in the AfroBasket, but on Thursday they beat hosts Morocco to book their place in Angola 2025 with two games to spare.
An evenly first half was transformed in a one-sided affair in the second half as the Bright Stars of South Sudan closed the game out with a remarkable 69-37.
Jo Lual Acuil Jr led the way for South Sudan with a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds, while three-point specialist Peter Jok added 11 points off the bench.
Morocco captain Abdelhakim Zouita, the only player to reach double figures, finished with 11 points in a game that the Maghreb side shot themselves in the foot in the third period.
TURNING POINT: After seven lead changes in the first two quarters, the Bright Stars took a commanding lead in the third quarter and never looked back.
South Sudan outscored Morocco 22-6 in the third quarter for the delight of huge number of South Sudanese fans who traveled from different parts of the kingdom to support their heroes.
HERO: By halftime the reigning BAL Most Valuable Player Jo Lual Acuil Jr emerged the leading scorer with 14 points - the only one to score in double figures. He eventually added 7 more points to lead all scorers.
BOTTOM LINE: South Sudan are back to winning ways after losing to DR Congo in the final match of the first round in Dakar in November.
Morocco's defeat leaves them in a more difficult position, with an 0-4 record and two tough games against high-flying DR Congo and a desperate Morocco.
WHAT THEY SAID: "We are really good when we are angry and we play that way. Guys were locked in defensively. I don't think anybody in our look room or in the team - throughout the whole game - were worried about how hard we were competing. I have coached many games, and I thought defensively we were outstanding." - South Sudan head coach, Luol Deng.
"They were much better than us. They were more aggressive, we tried our best in the first half, but it's always the third quarter that makes us pay the most. I don't know what the problem is in the third quarter, but we're still in it and we're going to fight until the last seconds." - Morocco center Khalid Boukichou.
FIBA