Uniball Trophy : Eagles best in epic battle
Lee Ridley
The best battle in Gateshead since the last Ikea sale saw Newcastle Eagles edge out Milon Keynes Lions 73-72 to virtually secure their passage into the next stages of the uni-ball trophy.
In a topsy-turvy game, the visitors looked to have taken victory in a hard fought encounter after netting a 7-1 run to go 63-70 ahead with four and a half minutes left on the clock.
However, the Lions then failed to hit a basket for the next four minutes as the Eagles sunk nine points without reply to go 72-70 to the good. Newcastle captain Shahid Perkins scored four and set up Andrew Mavis for a three pointer before Ralph Blalock grabbed two free throws with 44 seconds left.
Milton Keynes' Eric Burks broke that run to make it 72-72 but Perkins was then fouled by Lions' Kelvin Robinson and scored one out of two from the line to give the Eagles the lead once more.
With eight seconds remaining, Milton Keynes were looking for the last basket of the game but immediately gave away possession as Modie Cox was called for a travelling violation.
That gave the ball back to Newcastle who managed to hold on for the tightest of wins.
Earlier, the scores were tied 19-19 after the first quarter but the Eagles managed to pull away in the second and were 44-36 at the half. However, a poor third period for Newcastle saw the Lions take advantage as the Eagles only scored nine points to set up a tense final ten minutes for both teams.
This win almost ensures that Newcastle make at least second place in Group C with games against Sutton Pumas and Manchester Giants still to come. This means a quarter final place in the uni-ball Trophy on December 27th.
Scorers for the Eagles were Charles Smith 21, Shahid Perkins 15, Ralph Blalock 12 and Andrew Mavis 10. Milton Keynes had Eric Burks with 23, Kelvin Robinson 16 and Modie Cox and Broderick Bobb both 11.
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