UG, Wisconsin protest thrown out, Marshalls University College cleared as zone three winners

Marshalls University College have been cleared to represent zone three as winners in the 2015 UPAC Basketball Championship finals following a protest against their qualification.

The ambitious tertiary institution won the Greater Accra zone three competition in an eye-catching fashion on Sunday, beating University of Ghana on superior baskets to advance.

Their celebration was however delayed after University of Ghana and Wisconsin University College filed eligibility protest against power forward David Yusuf Asingar.

But officials have completed investigations and concluded that the protest be thrown out for lack of merit.

“We have conducted investigations and concluded that the protest from the University of Ghana and Wisconsin University College is baseless,” technical director Iddrisu Gamel Ayambire said in a statement.

“The player at the centre of the controversy – Master David Yusuf Asingar is duly qualified to represent Marshalls University College after the institution provided documents to back their evidence.

“The protest is thereby thrown out for lack of evidence.”

Officials of Marshalls will be relief after the protest clouded their remarkable feat.

In a keenly contested game held at the University of Ghana centre court over the weekend, Marshalls secured the surprise slot on points.

The game was decided on points after three teams- Marshalls, University of Ghana and Central University were tied after the round-robin game.

The three teams cancelled each other out after they won two games and lost one to accrue five points.

The winner was then picked based on the number of goals scored which went in favour of Marshalls.

Marshalls University College, playing in the competition for the first time lost to Central University 36-30 in their opening game. However they returned to the court re-invigorated and re-energized to deliver a famous 32-26 win over host University of Ghana.

That win inspired them to thrash whipping boys Wisconsin University 42-27 to open an eight point gap, helping them edge University of Ghana who scored 89 goals and conceded 79.