Kano Pillars beat Nigeria Customs 74- 73 on Saturday in the ongoing 2021 NBBF Premier Basketball Men’s League to maintain the lead in the Savannah conference.

Pillars had to dig deep to beat their Customs’ counterpart on day 3 of the competition played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The first quarter ended in a 21-21 stalemate, with Pillars taking the second quarter at 41-37, third quarter 58-57 and fourth quarter 74-73.

Sani Ahmed, the Kano Pillars coach, described the win as a morale booster for the team.

“We are happy with the win, it was a hard fought win, we will continue to improve with each game,” he said.

Earlier in the first match of the day, Reformers over powered their Defenders’ counterparts by 86-77.

Reformers won the first three quarters 20-17, 21-20, 27-20, before the Defenders rallied back to pick the fourth quarter 21-18, but it was too little too late as the Reformers won by 86- 77.

In the third match of the day, Gombe Bulls decimated Gboko City Chiefs by 95-46 to join Kano Pillars at the summit of the league.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The Savannah conference of the NBBF league comprise eight teams, although three of the teams, Kano Pillars, Gombe Bulls and Nigeria Customs, were all tied on four points at the end of day two of the league.

Defenders, Reformers are on three points, while Gboko City Chiefs, the Nigeria Army and Benue Braves had two points each

The league continues with matches scheduled for Sunday.