After two games away from league action, Leicester Riders refocus on their Super League Basketball campaign with a heavyweight clash against Newcastle Eagles.
It’s the second of three games in December against the Riders’ North Eastern opponents, with the teams facing off in the Trophy semi-final over two legs, but this league tie sandwiched in between the two games is not to be overlooked in its significance.
A win for the Riders would swing the league standings in their favour as they cast their eyes to the top of the table, so here’s all you need to know about the matchup.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Newcastle Eagles
Super League Basketball Championship
Sunday, December 15, 3PM
Riders return to League action
This weekend features a marathon double header for the Riders, who return home from a fixture in Falkirk on Friday evening.
The game, against Scottish Basketball Championship league leaders Falkirk Fury, saw Leicester progress to the second round of the Cup comfortably winning 130-61.
It was the highest-scoring game in Rob Paternostro’s 16-year tenure as Riders Head Coach, and the Club’s highest-scoring game since 1997. The game was also the second biggest win for Paternostro as Riders Head Coach.
Facing Falkirk saw a return to winning ways, after the Riders fell in a hard-fought semi-final first leg in Newcastle a week prior. The Riders, down 17 at the half, came back to make it a game going back to Leicester and lose only by four.
A torrid second quarter meant Leicester had to dig themselves out of the hole, and they will need performances up and down the roster in order to avoid needing another comeback on Sunday afternoon.
Off the back of a long road trip on Friday, and facing a talented Eagles side deep into their bench, the Riders need to lean into their full roster for 40 minutes in order to maintain their intensity late in the game.
Should their second unit match their starters’ production, the Riders will be in good stead to leapfrog the Eagles with a 5-2 league record with an important home win.
High-flying Eagles
The Eagles, who are flying high in the SLB and enter this one having won four domestic games on the bounce, fell for the first time since mid November in midweek.
They played Latvian side Valmiera Glass tough on the road, but lost 87-84 for their first loss in the ENBL this season. Mike Okauru, as he has throughout the SLB season, led the way for Newcastle with 26 points, proving to be a deadly threat from the Eagles backcourt.
He has a 35 point game to his name this season, draining 8 threes on his way to a season-high performance, and is averaging 18.4 points per game making him a top five scorer in Super League Basketball.
He has led the team to a 4-1 record, making Newcastle the only single-loss team in Britain’s top tier. Their fast-paced, high-flying brand of basketball has wreaked havoc in the League this season, as demonstrated by their 38 point second quarter last time against the Riders.
Newcastle has seven players scoring over nine points per game in the League this season, emphasising the need for contributions all the way down the Riders’ roster in order to beat Sunday’s visitors.
And if their last meeting is anything to go by, expect fireworks between these old rivals.
Where to watch
Tickets to the game are still available here! The game will also be available to be streamed live on DAZN.
