Money Mike Okauru banked a season-high 40 points as the US star’s rich vein of scoring form ended Caledonia Gladiators’ hopes of a shock win on Tyneside.

Super League Basketball’s basement club travelled south of the border on the back of a dismal 1-4 record against Newcastle Eagles in all competitions this season.

But gritty Gladiators took a Championship thriller to overtime before Okauru did what he does best — hitting six of the home side’s last 10 points to seal the deal at the death.

On a night when Seneca Knight was limited to just nine minutes, Trey Pulliam failed to find his scoring touch and De’Sean Allen-Eikens was well marshalled by a disciplined Caledonia defence, Newcastle needed their top scorer to step up.

And Okauru answered the call in spectacular style with a flurry of clutch buckets and killer plays to secure fourth spot for the Eagles heading into the international break.

But the men in black never had it easy against Jonny Bunyan’s well-drilled Scots and the visitors led by seven heading into the final quarter.

Indeed, Okauru needed the support of never-say-die veteran Darius Defoe to help turn the tide and British basketball’s most decorated player proved to be the perfect wingman.

Newcastle’s longest-serving player packed the stat sheet as he led from the front to claim 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block in 31 monstrous minutes.

Defoe even found time to take a trademark charge on a night when he dropped five from seven from the field and proved to be a constant thorn in the side of Bunyan’s prickly Gladiators.

But there was no doubting the star of the show as MVP Okauru added six assists, four rebounds and two steals to his huge 40-point haul.

And keeping the nerveless US guard fit and firing on all cylinders between now and the end of the season looks like being the key to unlocking more silverware under Marc Steutel.

Okauru and his team-mates will enjoy a well-earned week off while their relentless head coach focuses his attention on all things Great Britain.

But what a sign off at the Vertu Motors Arena as the Eagles’ eye-catching collaboration with this year’s MOBO Awards — taking place at the franchise’s former Utilita Arena home on Tuesday — hit all the right notes.

If Okauru was on song from the start then his team-mates struggled to break down a resilient eight-man Caledonia rotation that featured the fast-breaking Devearl Ramsey and powerhouse backcourt general Patrick Whelan.

For long periods of a tense affair on Tyneside, the Gladiators’ guards were able to wrestle control from Newcastle’s 2025 SLB Trophy winners.

And Bunyan’s men built on a 41-40 lead at the half to take the third quarter 19-13 and head into the final stanza as slight favourites.

But a Herculean effort finally began to take its toll on Ramsey and co. as the shots dried up and spaces began to appear.

An Okauru-inspired 16-4 tear inside the first four minutes of the final period saw the Eagles lead 69-64 and Defoe extended that advantage to eight points with the final buzzer in sight.

But Caledonia weren’t finished just yet and a Toto Fagbenle lay-up with 33 seconds remaining levelled the scores at 76-76 — taking an SLB thriller into overtime.

Points were at a premium at the outset of a cagey additional period and, when Pulliam committed a backcourt violation 90 seconds from time, nerves were jangling inside the VMA.

Wily veteran Whelan came out of a Gladiators timeout to reduce the deficit to a point before Defoe and Okauru decided enough was enough — the dependable duo seizing control and securing a fabulous fourth win on the bounce.