BBL Championship
Glasgow Rocks 72 (20,36,53) (Ware 14, Bunyan 11, Mazic/Grabau/Gillis 10)
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 80 (20,47,61) (Fletcher 19, Martin 15, A Thomson/Chapman 11)

Esh Group Eagles Newcastle overcame a stern test to maintain their unbeaten start as they defeated Glasgow Rocks 80-72 at the Emirates Arena.

Rahmon Fletcher top scored with 19 points including some important scores down the stretch to ensure it would not be 13th time unlucky as the Eagles made it a 13-0 start to their BBL Championship defence.


The American guard also provided six assists along with six rebounds, while compatriot Scott Martin contributed a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds with six players hitting double figures in total for the visitors.

Glasgow were level at 69-69 inside the final three minutes, but were unable to make it a highly impressive double-winning weekend as they drop to a 5-7 mark in the league.

In an evening opening period, Jonny Bunyan netted a triple in the final minute to tie the game at 20-20. The second continued in the same manner, until the Eagles closed the half with the final nine points to pull clear.


Despite facing a double-digit deficit, the Rocks came out fighting in the second half and managed to close within three points, only for the Eagles to take an eight-point advantage into the final quarter.

An 8-0 start to the fourth saw the home side level at 61, and they had the chance to go ahead at 65-65 but Warren Gillis couldn’t convert his and-1 opportunity.

Again level at 69, the Eagles would show their experience of closing out games as Fletcher scored 10 points in an 11-3 run to secure the victory. Marcus Ware had 14 points in a losing effort for the Rocks.

Newcastle have now won their last 14 meetings against the Rocks, in all competitions.