Cole Long’s 24 points and eight boards weren’t enough to save Newcastle Eagles at the Copper Box Arena as hosts London Lions closed out a hard-fought win in the capital.

The Canadian forward came off the bench to fire the visitors back into contention following his side’s second slow start inside 48 hours.

But even Long’s late heroics couldn’t prevent a third loss on the bounce ahead of tomorrow’s crunch European clash in Denmark.

Newcastle arrive in Aarhus ahead of their ENBL quarter-final first leg against the hometown Bakken Bears smarting from a frustrating defeat against league leaders London.

Had the Eagles not allowed Petar Bozic’s men to race into an 11-0 lead from the tip it may well have been a different story for the shorthanded visitors.

From the moment Christian James hit Newcastle’s first points of the game it was neck and neck between two fully committed teams.

And the men in black went on to dominate after the break — winning the second half 39-32 thanks, in large part, to Long’s 10 from 16 shooting from the field.

But the damage had been done inside three disastrous first quarter minutes as London raced into a double-digit lead and veteran Defoe was forced to sit down barely before his afternoon had started.

That the Eagles shot well below 40 per cent from the field for the second game in a row hardly helped Marc Steutel’s cause.

And the Great Britain playcaller was left scratching his head in disbelief as the misfiring Tynesiders landed just one of 11 three-point attempts before the break.

In the absence of Super League Basketball’s leading scorer, Mike Okauru, the 2025 Trophy winners can’t afford to miss out on open looks.

Factor in the loss of Malcolm Delpeche’s offensive rebounding and it’s vital that Newcastle make the most of their first chance opportunities.

But after another slack start the Eagles did, at least, show their trademark determination, fight and focus to give London a real scare.

And it’s clear that a beaten but unbowed roster is in no mood to surrender further silverware at home or abroad just yet.

After trailing 25-12 to the hungry Lions at the end of a turbulent opening period, the fightback began.

Josh Ward-Hibbert took an elbow in the face and Defoe was called for a third foul — two controversial moments that suddenly galvanised an increasingly irate Newcastle.

Long and Seneca Knight launched the rearguard action and the Eagles finally had the momentum heading into period three.

A stunning 10-3 run to start the second half forced a Lions timeout but Newcastle continued to trade baskets with the hosts.

Time and time again Steutel’s men moved to within touching distance of trimming the deficit to single figures — and creating chaos down the stretch — but London kept hitting the target when it mattered most.

Despite closing out the fourth period 25-20 it was too little too late for an Eagles side that must have regretted an inexplicable start.

Knight narrowly missed out on a double double as last season’s ENBL breakout star did his best to support the relentless Long.

And Steutel must hope that a return to European action this week will reignite a player Newcastle desperately need to be firing on all cylinders in Denmark.

Okauru — courtside for the Lions clash — was due to catch the flight to Copenhagen with his team-mates and it is rumoured he could yet feature against the Bears.

But any return to action is more likely to come in the second leg on Tyneside next week as the Eagles bid to make the ENBL Final Fours for the first time.