Esh Group Eagles Newcastle underlined their desire to defend the BBL Championship title with a 90-65 home win against Bristol Flyers on Friday.

Eagles had not been in action since suffering a damaging defeat to title rivals Leicester Riders two weeks ago, and relinquishing top spot in the standings.

But their determination to keep up the fight was evident as they blew away Bristol behind a 24-7 second quarter.

The lead reached 22 by half-time and from that point on it seemed there was no way back for Flyers, whose faint hopes of the reaching the BBL Play-Offs were all-but ended.

Joe Chapman led five Eagles in double-figure scoring with17 points while there was an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double for Scott Martin.

In the absence of the influential Cardell McFarland, Tyrone Lee was the high man with 19 points for Andreas Kapoulas’ side, who slip to a fourth straight defeat.

Eagles are in action again on Sunday when they travel to bottom club Manchester Giants.