BBL Championship

Worcester Wolves 88 (Masiulis 20, Williams 20, Owumi 15)

Newcastle Eagles 73 (Defoe 19, Maddox 19, Huffman 13)

Worcester Wolves have had an up and down season, but after bolstering their roster last week, the move paid an instant dividend when they cut down high flying Newcastle Eagles with a vibrant 88-73 home success.

Centre Arturas Masiulis was an absolute handful under the hoop, and with the versatile Kai Williams barely missing a shot all night either, the duo combined for 40 points to put the visitors to the sword.

It had been the Eagles who had started most brightly, taking a 17-14 first quarter lead, but even at this early stage, they had to work desperately hard to limit the power of the Wolves inside.

And, during the second quarter, the Wolves came alive and perhaps relished a little more what was evolving into a physical, and at times, bruising battle. Also benefitting from an injury to Eagles’ talisman Charles Smith, Worcester poured in 29 points to take a seven point lead to the locker rooms at the half.

They still led for much of the third period, managing to keep the Eagles at arms’ length, but Fab Flournoy and his Eagles’ players finally made a move and tied the game up at 59-59 heading into the last ten minutes.

But, as they did during the second quarter, Wolves stepped on the accelerator and this time, left the shocked Eagles trailing in their wake. With Alex Owumi contributing eight assists, Masiulis still rampant inside and Williams still lighting it up from anywhere he was given room to shoot, the Wolves coasted to arguably their best victory of the season.

As for the Eagles, they were left wondering how they would pick themselves up for their crunch game at UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders and avoiding an unthinkable three losses in four games in all competitions.