Ndikumana, Okello unstopabble as Oilers level series

National Basketball League Playoff Finals

Women: JKL 56 UCU 50 (Series level 1-1)

Men: Oilers 79 UCU 72 (Series level 1-1)

Landry Ndikumana looked like he had run into a cul de sac after being double-teamed on the block.

With no clear pass on and Ndikumana, not looking for a bailout, picked up the dribble, turned to the left and drained a smooth skyhook with his offhand over the towering pressure of Titus Lawal and Fadhili Chuma.

It was an exquisite move that underlined both Ndikumana's incredible skill and aggressive mindset in Game 2 of the National Basketball League (NBL) Finals.

By the end of the night at Lugogo, Ndikumana had a game-high 27 points and seven rebounds, and the City Oilers had their first, potentially ominous win of this best-of-seven series.

The six-time reigning champions and their talismanic centre, so listless in Game 1, were intense, professional and opportunistic; taking their first lead of the game in 31 minutes with 2:57 to play in the fourth quarter and holding on to win 79-72.

James Okello added 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Oilers frontcourt pounded the Canons into submission.

"We have to be more aggressive in the paint in Game 3," UCU coach Nick Natuhereza said post-match.

"We didn't do that today. That's why we lost."

David Kongor finished with a team-high 15 points and 11 rebounds for UCU while Titus Lawal also finished with 15 points.

Isaiah Mabeny and Jerry Kayanga combined to shoot six three-pointers, finishing with 14 and 12 points respectively.

Ndikumana sunk 4-of-8 three-pointers and was simply a joy to watch exploiting the rich repertoire of his arsenal.

Jimmy Enabu nailed 10 points for the Oilers, who will play Game 3 on Sunday at Lugogo before turning their attention to the second round of the Basketball Africa League qualifiers in Kigali.

"For us, every game is a fight, so we have to come out and fight in Game 3," said Oilers coach Mandy Juruni.