Giants through to next Cup hurdle
As expected, Manchester Giants booked a place in the Sainsbury's Classic Cola National Cup semi-finals with an 86-73 win over Renault Leicester Riders at the Thunderdome in Derby.
Manchester led narrowly in a close opening 10 minutes, before an 11-1 Leicester run closed Giants’ lead to 33-31 with 4:32 to go in the first half. Giants scored the last seven points of a close first half to lead 42-34, with Leicester's new signing Purnell Perry having scored 15 of his 17 points in the first period.
Riders, without the injured Troy Coleman, closed the deficit to 56-52 midway through the second half, but six straight points from Tony Dorsey and a three from Ronnie Baker in a 9-0 tear helped Manchester open up a decisive 14 point lead – 71-57 – with 8:12 to go. Each side amassed a further 7-0 run but the Giants maintained their cushion as Dorsey hit a game best 26 points.
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