Eagles crash to another defeat
NEWCASTLE Eagles collapsed to their second defeat in as many days as they lost 86-73 away to Bristol Flyers.
Coming just 24 hours after surrendering 84-68 to champions Leicester Riders at Sport Central, the loss will come as a hammer blow to the Eagles’ title ambitions.
Newcastle are now locked in a four-way tie at the top of the table but the back-to-back defeats hand the BBL Championship initiative to Leicester, who have plenty of games in hand of the sides at the top.
Fab Flournoy’s side were shorn of Drew Lasker from their ranks with injury making a tough proposition even harder ahead of last night’s game.
That meant Jeremy Smith was forced to step up in to the starting five and left Newcastle with a weakened bench.
And when they lost Victor Moses to injury in the third quarter, the Eagles were faced with a mountain just too steep to climb.
The first quarter was a typical BBL back-and-forth affair as both teams made runs during the opening 10 minutes of high-speed action.
The first of these bursts came from the home side after an even opening to the game. They produced a six-point run that gave them an early five-point lead.
Newcastle hit back immediately through Rahmon Fletcher and Kai Williams.
But the home side were not to be denied and showed the strength that has impressed many this season, Fred Thomas’s triple ending the quarter and taking Bristol in to a double-digit advantage at 29-18.