Leicester Riders fell to Manchester Basketball on the road in the Super League Basketball Championship. 

A costly first quarter and a half saw them down 20 midway through the second, and despite climbing back into the game in the fourth through the brilliance of Zach Jackson, they could never get over the hump and take a comeback win. 

Jackson had 22 on the game, scoring 14 in the fourth. Meanwhile Charles Thompson logged his career-high in points with a game-high 26, and tied his career high in blocks with 6, and grabbed 14 rebounds in a dominant display inside. 

Meanwhile Manchester were led by DJ Mitchell, who scored 24 despite fouling out in the fourth. That forced Makai Ashton-Langford to make the game deciding plays. His deep three with under a minute left proved the dagger.

The Riders picked up their fifth loss of the league season, making their record 13-5 in third place in the Championship. 

Hot Manchester start leaves Leicester in early hole

The red hot Manchester offence was the story of the opening stages. Manchester’s Mitchell and Ashton-Langford combined for four Manchester threes through five minutes. 

They led 17-10, despite the two-way play of Thompson who logged 10 points and a monster block on Ian Dubose early.

Thompson played like a guard from the five man spot, taking defenders off the dribble, and hitting a fadeaway to bring him to double digits. 

But Mitchell lit up the game with four first quarter threes on his way to 12 points, and the hosts led by 14 after one. Dubose had the highlight of the quarter, throwing down a jam over Ethan Wright on the fastbreak. 

Leicester fight back from 20 point deficit 

Manchester made the lead 20 with their continued high powered offence in the second. They started the period 6-0, getting to the rim with elite ball movement. Leicester trailed the turnover battle 5-0 to start the game, falling into an early hole. 

J’Raan Brooks stopped the offensive drought with a triple, followed by Jackson at the rim who showed off delicate touch off the glass. Leicester went on a 10-0 run, with four points from Duke Shelton, to cut into the deficit to 11. 

After struggling to contain the Manchester offence early, Leicester locked them down on their run to open up transition opportunities. Jackson made an and-one play on the run following a Thompson block to make the score 43-36. 

Thompson finished the first half with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. 

Manchester had the best of the final minute of the half, Kyle Carey’s three making it 50-41 come the break, but Leicester were back in contention after the big second quarter deficit. 

Riders cut it close, but can’t take control

Thompson picked up where he left off in the first half to start the third, blocking Elijah Ifejeh to send Johnson on the fastbreak for two. Jaylin Hunter scored five quick points, and the Riders made it a one score game. 

Attempting to handle the Thompson dominance, both Manchester big men, Ifejeh and Marcus Delpeche, picked up their fourth fouls, leaving them in dire need of size on the floor. 

But Mitchell gave Manchester some breathing room with back-to-back threes, making it 22 on the night and giving his team an 8 point lead and stemming the Leicester momentum. 

Plays from Shelton, Spencer Johnson and Conner Washington saw the Riders knocking on the door, but Manchester kept them at arm’s length to close out the third, and they led by nine going into the fourth. 

Riders fall short of Jackson inspired comeback

In a key moment of the game, Manchester took control of the matchup in the fourth with two scores to force a Riders timeout. They started the quarter 7-2, giving the Riders a mountain to climb. 

Carey’s three made it 81-65 with seven minutes on the clock. 

Jackson and-one triggered the Riders comeback following a timeout. That was quickly followed by Thompson’s finish at the rim. Jackson then nailed a three with 4:52 left, cutting it back to eight. 

Jackson scored 13 on the Riders’ run to cut the game to one, and as he picked up fouls with his aggressive play, three Manchester players fouled out, including their leading scorer Mitchell. 

Carey’s play was the turning point late which kept the hosts narrowly ahead. He stole it from Johnson at halfcourt to add two to their tally. 

Thompson scored four quick points to cut the game to a possession, but Ashton-Langford hit back with a deep three to kill the hope of an incredible Riders comeback. 

The Riders return to action on Sunday, heading to Sheffield to take on the Sharks in a top of the table clash.