BBL Championship
Cheshire Phoenix 87 (21,39,59) (Coleman 22, Moses 22, Middleton 19)
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 79 (21,37,50) (Gause 21, Smith 19, Defoe 16)

Cheshire Phoenix pulled off an upset against the visiting Esh Group Eagles Newcastle, defeating one of the league leaders 87-79, behind terrific performances by Dominique Coleman and Victor Moses.

The hosts started the game with more energy and got an early 9-4 lead after Devan Bailey went one-of-two from the free-throw line, but a pair of buckets by Eagles quickly tied things up.


Both teams shot poorly in the first two quarters and there was little separating them at the half, with Phoenix leading by a pair at 39-37.

The game changed dramatically in the third quarter, as Phoenix went on a 14-5 run to finish the period with a 59-50 advantage.

Only seven points separated the teams with six minutes left, but a 15-6 run by the hosts, capped off with a three-pointer by Dominique Coleman, gave the Cheshire club an 80-64 lead and, eventually, the win.


Victor Moses and Dominique Coleman scored 22 points apiece, with Moses also adding 16 rebounds, while Donatas Visockis scored 11 points and grabbed 18 boards in his debut for Phoenix.

Eagles were led by the duo of Charles Smith and Darius Defoe, who had 19 and 16 points respectively. Scott Martin added 14 points and seven rebounds.