Newcastle Eagles 87 (17,37,64) (Defoe 20, Chapman/Jackson/Stewart 14)
Worcester Wolves 63 (18,38,51) (Uzkuraitis 14, George 13, Zabas 13)

The Newcastle Eagles, reigning BBL champions, ended a three game losing streak by beating the Worcester Wolves 87-63 in the North East, after surviving a first half scare.

British big man Darius Defoe led their scoring with 20 points, while the trio of Chapman, Jackson and Stewart had 14 each. Vidmantis Uzkuraitis led the visitors with 14.

The Wolves, who have never beaten the Eagles at the MetroRadio Arena, were fast out of the blocks and soon led 1-8, until the Eagles responded with a 10-2 burst to lead themselves at 11-10. The teams traded baskets to the end of the quarter, with the Wolves edging it 17-18. The parity continued in the second quarter as the teams played their way to a tie at 25 after four minutes, and the Wolves still led 37-38 going into the locker rooms.

The Wolves still held a 45-47 lead in the third quarter before the Eagles made the decisive run. They posted a 13-2 surge, as Defoe, Chapman, Bridge and Jackson all scored, and they led 64-51 going into the final period. Once in the fourth, triples from Jackson and Chapman and Defoe’s dunk helped to push the score through the twenty barrier at 78-54.