BBL Championship
Worcester Wolves 94 (20, 47, 73)(Losonsky 26, Blackwell 20, Jackman 16)
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 80 (22, 39, 62)(Smith 18, Martin 15, Fletcher 15)
The second-best winning streak in BBL history came to an end on Friday as Worcester Wolves inflicted a 94-80 defeat on the previously unbeaten Esh Group Eagles Newcastle.
Fab Flournoy’s side last tasted defeat back in April, winning 28 games in a row including the BBL Cup Final just five days ago.
But Paul James’ side extended their fine record against the champions, beating them for the seventh time in their last 10 meetings to boost their BBL Championship title bid.
Pavol Losonsky led Wolves with 26 points while Orlan Jackman did a bit of everything on his way to 16.
It did not look as though there would be any Cup Final hangover for Eagles as they jumped out to a nine-point lead in the opening period.
But an 8-0 run during the second period, inspired by the all-round play of Jackman, helped Wolves seize the initiative.
Paul James’ side did a good job of controlling the game during the fourth quarter. Inevitably, Eagles kept coming and pulled within seven points inside the final four minutes following a Charles Smith triple.
But the baskets in transition they would usually convert to close the gap, were simply not falling, and the league leaders came up short.
Smith had 18 points in a losing effort while there were 15 each for Scott Martin and Rahmon Fletcher.
Both teams are in action again on Sunday, when Eagles face Cheshire Phoenix in the BBL Trophy Quarter-Finals and Wolves travel to Surrey Scorchers in the BBL Championship.

Worcester Wolves coach Paul James: “I don’t think any team has trouble getting up for Newcastle. We matched them physically, matched them mentally and knocked down shots when we needed to.

“It was a real team performance, and that’s what we can do if everybody comes to play.
“If we can play good defence it creates easy offence and tonight was one of our best defensive displays.
“We can’t let the good work we have done tonight go to waste on Sunday against Surrey Scorchers.”
Worcester Wolves forward Pavol Losonsky: “It was a great,  team win, it took all 10 guys. This was the best crowd we have had this season. We’ve been up and down this season so far but we still have people coming and showing us love, they were our sixth man.”