Eagles fail in efforts to pick up a road win

FOR the second night in a row through three quarters Newcastle Eagles were right in the mix to pick up an important road win.

But once again it was a final quarter that was ten minutes too far for the leg-weary Eagles who slipped to a third consecutive away defeat 96-84 – inside six days.

The Eagles had opened the scoring with Jaysean Paige’s alley-oop pass to Zarko Jukic being flushed home with authority by the flying Dane before London slowly replied with a 6–0 run to establish an early lead.

Jure Gunjina was the man that stepped up for the visitors draining his first triple of the game to stop Lions run and bring his side back in to the game.

From there it was a war of attrition as both teams were stopping the other with intermittent scoring leading to London shading the period 18–15.

The second, as far as Newcastle were concerned, was all about that man Gunjina.

Eagles zone defence was causing London some problems and although they were moving the ball around well, it was only when they got inside that any damage was done.

Coach Macleod’s men meanwhile looked as if they were going to die by the three-ball until Gunjina got red-hot and after making three triples was fouled attempting another and knocked down all three free-throws to pull his side level.

It got better for the Tynesiders as Jamal Williams put them in front and three times they edged out to a six-point advantage until a late London basket took the sides in to the locker rooms with Newcastle holding a 40–36 advantage after a big second period.

A Saah Nimley triple pushed the away side up to a seven-point advantage, but that was as good as it got for an Eagles side that are now looking in danger of being challenged for second spot.

London came back gradually and were particularly impressive inside with Cory Dixon in dominant mood.

And Lions came roaring out in the final period and with Gunjina drying up and no one else picking up, as the Eagles fell away defensively.

Time and time again London got inside and a crushing 18–2 run, including 15-points in a row, meant that in the space of five minutes Newcastle’s hopes were well and truly flattened and it was suddenly all over.