Marshalls University College have been crowned champions of the 2016 Private Universities Students Association (PUSAG) Games Basketball competition following a 44-42 win over Radford University College. The event took place at the El-Wak Stadium in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
Marshalls went into the tournament as favorites by chalking an impressive string of results in prior games particularly in the University, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship, which the institution is eligible to compete in.
The team began its undefeated run in the competition by qualifying out of Group E at the expense of Catholic University College and Ashesi University then proceeded to inflict a 20-12 defeat to on surprise package, Evangelical Presbyterian University.
Ghana Technology University College (GTUC)-Accra was next in line in the charismatic team’s title onslaught after the former dispatched Kings University College in their quarter final match up. Going by their moniker, “Too Easy”, Marshalls saw off the challenge of a well drill side who looked a much better side than the one which played in the UPAC Championship a few weeks ago.
In the final, Radford University College stood between them and the title. In a game that lived up to the billing, neither team could separate itself from the other and duly so the score was tied at the end of regulation and first overtime before Marshalls got the go ahead lead in second overtime to seal victory.
Coach of Marshalls, James Okine, who is fast developing into one of the very best basketball tacticians in the country was delighted with the win.
GTUC won bronze with Regent University College coming in fourth. The ninth PUSAG Games had over 38 private institutions in the country compete in multiple sports disciplines from March 25 to March 27. The Games were held under the theme, “Strengthening Peace Through Universities Games”.
