Super League Basketball disruptors Newcastle Eagles proved they are going nowhere in this season’s gripping race for the Championship title with a gutsy win against joint leaders London Lions.

Marc Steutel’s men fought for every point against the defensively resolute visitors, as a compelling top-flight classic ebbed and flowed from tip to buzzer.

And that hard work paid off as Newcastle stayed strong down the stretch to close out a 74-67 victory and inflict only a fourth league defeat of the season on the Lions.

“In this game you’re always thinking about what’s next and you’re trying to drive and push and grow and develop and all those things,” said a proud Steutel.

“But that was a win to savour and one to reflect on. I said to the guys ‘I enjoyed that one’.

“I think defensively we were more solid and more disruptive. We did a good job paying attention to the scout, understanding who we were trying to help off and how.

“One or two possessions hurt when they had a mini run at the start of the fourth quarter but we responded with some poise and some smarts.

“Overall it was a solid performance and that’s how I’d grade it. We just need to make sure we have more of those moving forward.”

Newcastle were paced by the irrepressible Seneca Knight who broke the game wide open with an offensive masterclass after the break.

The US star came off the bench to lead all scorers with 22 points — converting a spectacular five from six from beyond the arc.

And there was simply no stopping nerveless Knight as he put the hosts firmly in the box seat heading into period four.

There was a surprising starting five spot for new recruit Trey Pulliam but the point guard took the responsibility in his stride against the most challenging of opponents.

An assured display must have filled his team-mates with confidence as the locked in Texan looked every inch the ideal mid-season signing.

And Pulliam’s 14 points in 29 minutes — including six from six from the bonus stripe — capped a near perfect SLB debut.

Mike Okauru’s 17 points, six rebounds and three steals ensured he remained in the MVP conversation and there was another double figure haul for Christian James.

Shooting 50 per cent on 10 of 20 three-pointers and missing just one of their 15 free throws provided Newcastle with the platform for one of the Eagles’ best performances of the season.

And Steutel will have been delighted with his team’s tenacious approach to defence as the men in black forced 17 turnovers against the harried Lions.

London edged a sparky first period 15-11 but the hosts hit back to take a free-scoring second quarter 24-23.

Newcastle flew out of the blocks after the restart as Knight and Okauru combined for five triples inside the first five minutes of the second half.

Suddenly Petar Božić’s side found themselves trailing by eight and the rampant Eagles went on to take a thrilling third period 24-10.

But if Knight and co. thought it was job done then Lions had other ideas as Sean Flood opened the final quarter with nine unanswered points.

The lively guard breathed new life into a rollercoaster affair before Okauru stemmed the tide with a vital two.

That much-needed bucket settled Newcastle nerves and Pulliam kept a cool head on the free throw line to  see his new team home ahead of what promises to be a tough trip to top five rivals Cheshire Phoenix.