Leicester Riders entered the clash with Newcastle Eagles in strong form, having won four of their previous five games in the Championship. After a slow start to the season, Rob Paternostro’s side looked vastly different to the team that last faced the Eagles in October, bolstered by the arrivals of Donald Carey Jr, the return of 7’3” centre Aaron Menzies, and the recent addition of fan favourite Marc Loving.
Fast Start and Rising Tensions
Newcastle opened the scoring through Dion Hammond, but Leicester responded quickly via Nate Martin. The Eagles started brightly, with Rea’Sean Taylor finding his rhythm early, while Marc Loving and captain Spencer Johnson kept the Riders in touch.
Tensions flared midway through the quarter as Travis Evee and Mitch Clarke clashed, resulting in double technicals and lifting the hostile crowd. Despite flashes from RaeQuan Battle who drained his first triple of the night, the Eagles took control late, opening up a 30–21 lead.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Carey Jr Sparks the Fightback
The rivalry intensity continued into the second. Evee sparked the Riders with a steal and finish in transition, before Carey Jr began to impose himself on the game. After a quiet start, the American guard found his groove, attacking the paint and creating for others as Leicester chipped away at the deficit.
Despite Carey Jr’s strong quarter finishing the half with 12 points and three assists. Newcastle continued to look dangerous through Taylor and the red-hot Maceo Jack, who poured in 20 first-half points. The Eagles went into the break leading 55–45.
Credit: Leicester Riders | Nathan Green
Riders Charge Back
Leicester came out firing after the interval. Battle hit back-to-back triples to ignite the comeback, before Carey Jr finished at the rim to cut the gap to a single possession. The Riders’ ball movement improved, with Evee orchestrating play and Flynn Boardman-Raffet converting inside.
Aaron Menzies’ presence gave Leicester a focal point in the paint, and by the end of a dominant third quarter, the Riders had clawed back to 65–63, setting up a huge final period.
Eagles Close It Out
Menzies tied the game early in the fourth, but Newcastle responded swiftly. Hammond and Cole Long knocked down key baskets as the Eagles punished turnovers to stretch the lead back out.
Battle continued to battle, knocking down a big three from the wing, but Leicester struggled to string stops and scores together. With time winding down, the Eagles slowed the game and managed the clock well. Nate Martin fouled out late, and Newcastle’s late run proved decisive.
In a physical, high-intensity contest between two of British basketball’s most successful clubs, it was Newcastle Eagles who made the key plays down the stretch finishing the game 98-85. Despite the defeat, the Riders showed fight and flashes of the form that has driven their recent momentum as the rivalry continues to burn bright.
