A battered beaten-up Newcastle Eagles were in action in their third different competition in five days but once again defied the odds like they had at Sheffield on Friday night to take a huge road win in the SLB Trophy.

Their 79-76 win at Caledonia giving them the perfect start to defending a Trophy they won last season back in January in Birmingham against Bristol Flyers. This of course is a much-changed Newcastle side but one that over the last two games have shown a real metal and purpose to their game.

It means if they can defeat the Sheffield Sharks this coming Friday at the Vertu Arena they will automatically qualify for the Trophy Semi-Finals that are scheduled for next month. A loss may not put them out but they would be looking at other results.

For now, the narrow hard-fought win achieved at the Playsport Arena East Kilbride has them in pole position to go through to the last four of a competition that could see a path to picking up more silverware for the most decorated Club in British basketball.

Eagles are becoming accustomed to going into games short-handed and facing adversity at this present time. They did welcome Deion Hammond back from injury to bolster their roster to eight players but the wear and tear of such a brutal schedule is taking its toll.

Newcastle were once again indebted to a virtuoso performance from Maceo Jack who’s massive double-double on the night of 26 points (including 13 from 15 from the free-throw line) and 12 rebounds cemented another MVP performance for the prolific scorer.

His main support coming from Ray’Sean Taylor, Cole Long and Mitch Clarke. However, it has to be said that all eight of Newcastle’s on-court player presence made a significant contribution to another gutsy character victory on the road.

This was a game where despite the tight final scoreline the Eagles always managed to find an answer when the Gladiators asked them questions. Indeed, apart from a couple of occasions in the first period when the home side levelled the contest, Newcastle never allowed their opponents to take the lead.

A good start from Newcastle saw them six points up early on at 6-12. Caledonia hit back to level the scores but Clarke off the bench scored Eagles last seven points of the period including the last five to give his side a 17-12 lead going into the second.

Jack then really got to work and is 11-point quarter contribution enabled the Eagles to get the lead up to 14 during the period. Nine unanswered points from Caledonia cut that lead and even helped the Scottish side take the period by a single point to only trail 32-36 at the half.

The Eagles scoring in the third period was remarkable. All 21 of their points in the quarter came from beyond the 3-point line. Seven triples, three from Long, two from Taylor and one a-piece from Jack and Hammond gave them a 21-17 advantage and an eight-point lead to take into the final quarter.

Taylor was the bright spark for Newcastle as the last ten minutes opened helping his side to go back in front by 14 once again. But Caledonia were not finished yet and scored ten unanswered to make a determined final push.

And despite ten more points from Jack the momentum seemed to have swung as the Gladiators closed to within a single point at 74-75. Eagles though responded as the clock ticked down. A Hammond and-1 play and a Long free-throw taking them five points clear.

Caledonia had the last word but it was too little too late as Newcastle held on to take a crucially vital win and one that gives them a great chance of making the semi-final stage.