BBL Championship

Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 103 (18,53,84) (Smith 23, Defoe 17, Martin 16)
Glasgow Rocks 93 (21,51,67) (Achara 22, Smith 21, Ogedengbe 19)

Esh Group Eagles Newcastle continued their sizzling form and started the weekend by maintaining the pressure on their pursuers at the top of the BBL Championship, beating old foes Glasgow Rocks 103-93. The Eagles made it eight league wins in a row, and went through the century mark for the second consecutive home game.

Charles Smith, who so often haunts the Rocks, led the way with 23 points on the night as he became the fifth highest all-time scorer in the BBL. He was backed up by British big man Darius Defoe on 17 points, while the Rocks were led by his compatriot Kieran Achara on 22.

The Rocks, coming into the game on the back of consecutive wins, took an early lead on a massive 19-2 first quarter surge, having trailed 9-0, and still led after the first ten minutes.

But that didn’t last long as the Eagles tied the game at 28 in the second before, aptly, Smith’s three-pointer gave them the lead and simultaneously saw him reach his personal landmark. He shot 100% in the first half as the Eagles led 53-51 behind his 13 points.

And the Eagles asserted themselves as they came out strong after the break: a 9-3 start pushed them into a double-digit lead at 67-57, and they maintained that margin for the remainder. The lead peaked at 84-67 heading into the fourth quarter, and the hosts were comfortable from there on in as player/coach Fab Flournoy sent them through the 100 mark late in the game.