BBL Championship
Newcastle Eagles 101 (22, 48, 75) (A Thomson 22, Defoe 19, Smith 15)
Surrey United 62 (18, 31, 49) (Coleman 18, Downing 16, Attah 11)

There was no sign of a BBL Trophy Final hangover at Sport Central on Friday as Newcastle Eagles eased to a 101-62 BBL Championship victory against Surrey United.

Dave Forrester took charge of the league leaders as player-coach Fab Flournoy continued his recovery from a torn achilles sustained in last weekend’s Trophy Final success against Leicester Riders.

Andre Jones also missed out because of a hamstring injury, meaning Trophy Final MVP Charles Smith started the game.

The visitors, who won their first game in 10 last weekend, started well and matched the league leaders for much of the first period, despite nine early points from Darius Defoe.

Forrester’s calls for increased intensity on defence were answered in the second period, however, allowing Newcastle to score 18 points in the final five minutes of the half to pull away.

Defoe racked up 19 points to take his career BBL total past 4,000 while also collecting 15 rebounds, as Andrew Thomson top-scored with 22, and added 10 rebounds.

Despite being hampered by foul trouble, Dominque Coleman paced United with 18 points, but Jack Majewski’s side could not prevent Eagles securing a 17th consecutive win.