Following a disappointing loss at home on Friday night against London, Newcastle Eagles showed great character and determination to see off a Manchester side yesterday on Sunday afternoon. It’s a win that they badly needed against a side below them in the standings.

Not that you’d have known that given the way Manchester started the game and how they battled throughout. Everyone within the league talks about how tough it is to keep winning and how everyone on their day can beat each other. Manchester almost proved that in this game.

But Newcastle still without defensive kingpin Josh Ward-Hibbert through injury, found a way and in the end deserved their win. Eagles came back well following the home side’s electric start and then saw off their comeback when Newcastle looked as if they might well pull away in the third period.

For Newcastle it was ‘Money’ Mike Okauru who once again led his side brilliantly in scoring. The league’s second top scorer averages almost 20 points per game but his 32-points in this encounter was an exceptional effort and included 6 made triples from 10 attempts and added in 4 assists.

Christian James who had 32 points on Friday night in the London defeat was also very effective as he put up a really good stats line of 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals in a really stellar performance from the bench.

Cole Long also had a big game from the bench with 12 points and 6 rebounds whilst Okauru’s normal partner-in-crime Seneca Knight had 17 points and 4 rebounds as his contribution from the starting five.

Eagles looked rusty early on and perhaps were still suffering from a Friday night hangover as Manchester went into overdrive from the start and established a ten-point lead that forced Coach Steutel into an early time-out to talk things over.

His side rallied slightly but Donovan Mitchell’s 3-point basket on the buzzer of the first meant the home side still had a nine-point gap at 24 to 15 but that was all about to change as Okauru got into full flow for the Eagles.

He lead a terrific second quarter effort as a 15 points to 4 run for the visitor’s not only got them back into the game but Okauru’s last deuce in that burst actually gave Newcastle first lead at 30 to 28. A lead Eagles pushed to four by the half-time buzzer.

Coming out for the second half Newcastle continued that momentum and hallway through the third had established a ten-point lead at 58 – 48 with Manchester being unable to halt Okauru and his teammates. However, it was a familiar story at the other end as Manchester hit back in some style.

Makai Ashton-Langford really bringing his side back into the game as they tore through the Eagles defence as the quarter wound down and suddenly with ten minutes to play the teams couldn’t be split and both had 65 points.

Newcastle were never behind in that final period although could never quite put Manchester fully away who just about kept in the game. Eagles did get to nine points in front as the game neared it’s end but Manchester kept battling.

But with 8 seconds to go De’Sean Allen-Eikens got free, drove to the basket and made the game safe for Newcastle with their last score of the game. It was, a much-need win, and took Eagles to a 7 wins 7 loss record in the League standings and gives them some confidence moving forward.

The Eagles are on the road to Estonia at Tartu this week in their final group stage game of the 2024/25 ENBL season before returning home to face Cheshire Phoenix on Friday night in Newcastle.

Fans can watch the ENBL away game live on YouTube and tickets are still available from the box office for this Friday’s SLB home game.