Stade Malien have finished third place in their first season at the Basketball Africa League after a shocking 73-65 victory over last season’s finalist Petro de Luanda on Friday.

Petro de Luanda who looked uninterested made just 6/25 from behind the arc and surprisingly had 14-24 assists in the game with 24 turnovers committed.

Angolan legend Carlos Morais was the only Petro player who finished on double figures with 15 points and 9 rebounds..

For an eight consecutive game, Aliou Diarra made a double-double 25 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes on the floor.

Of the two teams, the Malians looked more determined to get the victory and they led for most part of the game.

Stade Malien stretched the lead to five points with 1:15 left to play and kept their lead intact as they finished third place in the 2023 Basketball Africa League.

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