London Lions defeated a tough to crack Bristol Flyers side 76-68 in the capital city’s first home game of the season.
Lions, who are still without Zaire Taylor and Lovell Cook struggled to contain Flyers’ precise ball movement and execution in the first quarter got their act together and even though the visitors staged a late fightback in the fourth, the Lions held on and eventually created enough breathing space to stay unbeaten at 2-0.
Andrew Sullivan led the Lions with 18 points with Rod Brown adding 17. Doug Herring led Bristol with a game-high 19 points.
MIX OF FORTUNES FOR WORCESTER
Worcester Wolves had a mixed weekend with a win at home and a loss on the road.
The Wolves started their home campaign with a comfortable 83-67 win to the Cheshire Phoenix as Robert Thurman’s 22 points, which led all scorers was enough to see Worcester home.
But their joy was short lived as they threw away a 15-point lead in the second quarter to lose 93-83 to the Manchester Giants at the Trafford Sportsdome.
David Watts hit six of his eight three-point attempts to lead the winners with 19 points as Worcester slumped to an unexpected defeat.
EAGLES DOMINATE THE NORTH-EAST RIVALRY
Newcastle Eagles won on the road as they defeated neighbours Durham Wildcats 99-73 to maintain their unbeaten record in the north-east derby.
Eagles looked a little nervy, as they held a slender 43-39 lead at the half. But they soon left the Wildcats in the dust in the third period to register their first win of the season at the second attempt.
Darius Defoe led Eagles with 27 points, but Fabulous Flournoy used this game to pass another milestone in his storied British basketball career, as he passed 4,000 career points in the win.
John Puk led Durham with 18 points.
LEEDS OUT OF THEIR DEPTH?
Leeds Force are now the only team without a win this season after they lost two games over the weekend.
In their first home game as a BBL side, they started brightly against the Glasgow Rocks, the Force led 36-29 and looked good. But the new boys gradually faded, leaving the Scottish unit to record a 77-57 win.
Tayo Ogedengbe led all scorers with 29 points for the Rocks.
Leeds then travelled to Cheshire to face the Phoenix, but in drab encounter, Cheshire’s defence was a key to their 66-48 win.
Phoenix held Leeds to just 7 points in the first as they strolled to a first win of the season.
ELSEWHERE…
Glasgow got off the mark on Friday, but after a long trek to Guildford, they came up short against Surrey United, with the hosts sealing a 97-76 win.
Lavione West led United with 20 points as they wore down a visibly tired Glasgow side, who looked fatigued throughout.
