Newcastle Eagles sit proudly at the top of the BBL Championship table with 3 wins from 3 games as they defeated the Marshall MK Lions 81-87 at the Bletchley Leisure Centre on Friday night.

A 6-0 start for the Lions was immediately followed by a 10-0 response from the Eagles to give them an early 6-10 advantage.

Both sides traded baskets throughout much of the remaining opening two quarters, but it was the visitors who went into the locker rooms much the happier side leading 33-40 at the half.

The second half saw the Lions explode out of the blocks, and a 10-2 start to the third period gave them a slender 43-42 lead. It remained close for the rest of the quarter with the lead changing hands on a number of different occasions, but it was again the Eagles who were slightly the happier side as they lead 63-65 going into the final stanza.

In the final period, Carl McNally tied the game immediately at 65-65 before a 7-2 burst by the Eagles gave them a 67-72 lead. Five points from McNally tied the game again at 72-72 before an 11-5 Eagles tear gave the visitors a 77-83 advantage going into the closing stages.

Yorick Williams and McNally got the Lions to within two points at 81-83 with 30 seconds remaining, but Trey Moore secured the victory from the Eagles netting four consecutive free-throws down the stretch to give the visitors the “W”.

McNally led the Lions scoring with 17 points, but it was Andrew Bridge who led all scorers in the game with 22 points for the Eagles.