Red hot rookie De’Sean Allen-Eikens led all scorers as Newcastle Eagles enjoyed a perfect start to Super League Basketball.

Marc Steutel’s men followed up Friday night’s impressive season-opening win against Sheffield with another strongarm performance in Manchester.

And it was California State graduate Allen-Eikens who made the home side sweat as his 21 points and five rebounds underpinned a dominant 80-63 win.

After revealing he went an entire week without his mobile phone, a dialled-in display from the 24-year-old must have delighted coach Steutel.

And the North Dakota native said: “I’m happy to be here and to get my feet under me at Newcastle.

“I’m just trying to figure things out and adjust to Super League Basketball as soon as possible.

“It’s been a big transition but when there are guys like Josh Ward-Hibbert around it’s a big help. He’s the heart of this team and we all follow him.”

Ward-Hibbert was the star of the show at the Vertu Motors Arena last week and the Great Britain international was at it again against Manchester.

A towering double double of 13 points and 14 boards in just 26 minutes had the hapless hosts on the ropes.

And Ward-Hibbert added: “I’m proud of that performance. Playing two games in three days at the start of the season is always going to be tough but it’s job done.

“I’m already excited by what I’ve seen from this group and I’m hoping we can achieve something special together this season.”

Newcastle won the battle of the boards in convincing fashion — outrebounding Callum Jones’ side 53-24.

And while Manchester mustered just two second chance points, the Eagles bagged 17.

Seneca Knight joined Allen-Eikens in double figures as he added seven boards to his 15 points.

But special mention has to go to livewire Jordan Spencer after the former London Lion leapt off the bench to pack the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists in just 24 minutes.

The so-called Delpeche derby — with brothers Malcolm and Marcus going head to head — got off to a flier with the lead changing hands five times within the first six minutes.

But after Will Neighbour entered the fray for his first taste of Super League Basketball, the men in black began to turn the screw.

Knight hit seven of the next 13 Newcastle points as the standout star of last season’s European North Basketball League suddenly found his range.

And the all-action American fired the visitors into a deserved 24-18 first quarter lead after adding the bonus shot to a brilliant put-back two-pointer.

The energy, focus and fight that underpinned a hard-fought win against Sheffield was evident again as the Eagles continued to scrap for every loose ball.

And as Allen-Eikens lit up the offensive end, his team-mates swarmed all over an increasingly nonplussed Manchester.

Newcastle led 49-30 at the half and, although the hosts edged a scrappy third quarter, Steutel’s men never looked in any danger.

Sauveur Kande dropped a timely reminder of his scoring threat off the bench as he drained a late triple down the stretch.

But another impressive night of high-pressure hoops belonged to Allen-Eikens and Ward-Hibbert as the Eagles moved to 2-0 ahead of Friday’s crunch clash against cross-border rivals Caledonia Gladiators.