The Newcastle Eagles got their BBL Championship campaign back on track thanks to a thrilling 106-116 victory over the One Health Sharks Sheffield in front of the Sky TV cameras at the EIS, Sheffield on Friday evening.
With the Eagles leading by four points at 94-98 with a minute remaining, a three-pointer from Ryan Patton trimmed the deficit to a point at 97-98 with 57 seconds left in regulation.
A Joe Chapman basket with 37 seconds to go gave the Eagles a 97-100 lead, but a foul from Chapman with four seconds left sent Patton to the line for three shots which he made to send the game into overtime.
In the extra period, the Eagles stamped their authority on the game thanks to a 14-1 burst to take the score out to 116-103 and give them the victory.
Earlier in the game, both sides trading baskets in the early exchanges of the first quarter, but it was the Sharks who opened up an early 22-9 lead helped by seven points from Marcus Stout in a 13-2 burst midway through the first quarter. The Eagles came straight back into the game as five consecutive three-pointers from Joe Chapman (2), Charles Smith (2) and Trey Moore (1) moved the Eagles into a 34-28 lead coming off the back of a 22-4 tear across the first quarter break.
The Sharks were not to be outdone and a combination of Stout and Ryan Patton got the home side back in front thanks to a 13-4 burst to lead 42-40, but a 13-3 finish to the half from the Eagles helped the visitors into a 45-53 lead at the half.
In the second half Mike Tuck bagged 11 points for the Sharks in a 13-3 run to trim the deficit to just a single point at 58-59, but a pair of three-pointers from Smith and Chapman helped the Eagles back into a 60-72 lead after a 13-2 run which the visitors held onto as the sides headed into the final stanza with the Eagles leading 66-78.
In the fourth period both sides traded baskets throughout the majority of the quarter before the fireworks of the closing moments and overtime occurred.
Charles Smith (pictured) led all scorers with 33 points for the Eagles, while Stout led the scoring for the Sharks with 30 points personal.
One Health Sharks Sheffield 106 (26,45,66,100) (Stout 30, Tuck 22, Patton 21)
Newcastle Eagles 116 (25,53,78,100) (Smith 33, Chapman 32, Moore 28)
(After overtime. Tied at 100-100 at end of regulation)
