The Leicester Riders produced a statement performance at the Mattioli Arena on Friday night, defeating long-time rivals the Newcastle Eagles 91–77 to claim their first win of the Super League Basketball season.
Debuts and a Fast Start
Head Coach Rob Paternostro made changes to his line-up, handing debuts to 7’3” British center Aaron Menzies and American guard Donald Carey Jr.
Menzies, returning to the club after previously featuring in the 2022–23 season, opened the scoring for the Riders with a composed finish inside. From there, the Riders exploded out of the blocks. RaeQuan Battle hit back-to-back threes before Carey Jr. announced himself to the home crowd with a series of sharp jumpers.
Carey Jr. was unstoppable early, scoring eight points in the first five minutes, while Battle matched him shot for shot as the Riders’ offence clicked into gear. A buzzer-beating three from Carey Jr. capped off a dominant first quarter, sending Leicester into the break 39–16 ahead.
Credit: Leicester Riders
Strong Defence and Crowd-Lifting Plays
Newcastle responded in the second quarter through Mitch Clarke, who completed a three-point play, but Leicester maintained control. Carey Jr. continued to shine with clever link-up play alongside Tomiwa Sulaiman, finishing a smooth give-and-go at the rim.
Sulaiman’s defensive presence was immense, pulling down eight first-half rebounds, while Battle brought the crowd to its feet with a powerful dunk over the Eagles defence. The Riders led 59–36 at half-time, with Carey Jr. on 16 points and five assists, and Battle adding 12 points and four assists of his own.
Composure and Control
Battle opened the third quarter with another three, setting the tone as Leicester continued to extend their lead. Emmanuel Akot contributed steadily, showing touch and control with a fade-away jumper and efficient mid-range shooting.
The Riders’ shooting remained sharp, while their defence limited Newcastle to difficult looks. Sulaiman continued to impress off the rotation with eight points and eight rebounds, while the visitors’ Rae’Sean Taylor led the Eagles with 14 points. Leicester entered the final period firmly in command, up 77–58.
Credit: Leicester Riders | Nathan Green
Closing Out the Win
The Eagles showed fight in the fourth, led by Taylor, who finished with 19 points, but the Riders never lost control. Battle continued to drive the lane aggressively, and Carey Jr. found Spencer Johnson, who attacked the baseline and finished strongly. Johnson added 15 points as Leicester maintained their double-digit cushion down the stretch.
After four straight defeats to start the season, the Riders responded emphatically with a confident and well-rounded team performance.
Final Score: Riders 91–77 Eagles
A dream debut for Donald Carey Jr., who finished with 21 points and nine assists, while RaeQuan Battle added 18 points and Tomiwa Sulaiman anchored the defence with 11 rebounds and 10 points.
The result ends Leicester’s early-season run of losses and gives the team a timely boost ahead of their next Super League Basketball fixture at the Mattioli Arena when they take on Cheshire Phoenix on Friday 31st October. Tickets on Sale HERE.
