Reuben Chinyelu of Florida Gators was the happier of two Nigerian players on opposing sides in USA’s National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) men’s basketball league, as he outshone LSU’s Michael Nwoko.
Sports247 reports that, while Nwoko top scored for Louisiana State University’s Tigers, top highlight of the night went to Chinyelu, who netted 15 points and tied his career high with 21 rebounds.
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Chinyelu also became the first Florida University player in two decades to get four consecutive double-doubles, and his efforts helped the 16th-ranked Gators hand LSU a 79-61 defeat.
It was Florida’s fifth straight victory, propelled by another highlight for Chinyelu, who matched David Lee’s double-double streak from their 2005 set that recorded 14-5, 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
While Florida extended their home winning streak to 16 games, Chinyelu achieved his second 20-plus-board game of the season, thereby making him the third player in collegiate history to accomplish the feat.
Conversely, Nwoko led The Tigers with 17 points before fouling out at seven minutes left to play, on a night LSU’s leading scorer, Dedan Thomas Jr. returned from a five-game absence with a leg injury, but missed his first six shots.
While Thomas finished with two points, two rebounds and three assists, Gators turned to Chinyelu after the break, and he delivered, part of the biggest series in the pulsating game – a seven-point possession.
The Tigers were called for a flagrant foul, giving Florida two free throws and the ball, of which Chinyelu made one, seized the rebound, hit a layup, got fouled again and added the seventh point from the stripe.
