It was no happy homecoming for Ralph Blalock to Tyneside. 

The former Newcastle Eagles favourite hit 22 points but it was not enough as his previous team kept their unbeaten home record intact on Friday with a 108-97 victory over the Leicester Riders in the Northern Conference.

The Eagles broke open a topsy-turvey game in the third quarter when they outscored their visitors 37-20 to take an unassailable 88-73 lead. Earlier the Riders had looked to assume control racing into an early 24-32 first quarter advantage but they could not sustain that push despite a game-best 30 from Purnell Perry.

TJ Walker ran up 26 for the Eagles who face Edinburgh to Saturday.