BBL Championship
Guildford Heat 102 (23,43,68,83) (Drakeford 23, Martin 23, Joseph/McKnight 17)
Newcastle Eagles 98 (18,42,63,83) (Chapman 29, Jackson 22, Smith 19)
After overtime

Newcastle Eagles’ unbeaten start to the season is over after they went down 102-98 at Guildford Heat after overtime.

Heat’s Aaron Drakeford forced the extra period by sinking one of two free throws with five seconds left in regulation. Drakeford was the main man in overtime as his drive and bucket put his team ahead for good at 99-98 with, again, just five seconds remaining.

Earlier the Eagles had overcome deficits at the end of the first three quarters to take tie the match at 75-75 midway through the final stanza. Neither side could break free as the match was extended by five minutes.

In overtime the lead was exchanged several times until Drakeford, who led the Heat offence with 23 points, decided it.

Heat coach Chad McKnight (pictured) said: “It was a great game. Newcastle Eagles are always a tough team to play and it was a hard fought by both sides but we stuck it through to the end.

“We’ve let a couple of games slip recently in the fourth quarter so to grind it out and get the win is pleasing. It is the first time in four years that I have beaten Newcastle and to do it for the first time as a coach is particularly satisfying.”