Leicester Riders produced another dramatic performance at the Mattioli Arena, edging past Manchester Basketball 111–108 in overtime in a fiercely contested Super League Basketball Trophy clash but ultimately fell short in qualifying for the next round.
Fast Start, Even Battle
Manchester opened the scoring through Kaiyem Cleary, but RaeQuan Battle quickly responded with a triple from the wing. The visitors started hot, with Cleary, Max Jones and Patrick Smith Jr all finding early success, while Leicester stayed close through Nate Martin and Battle. A late three from captain Spencer Johnson helped the Riders claw back after a slow start, but Manchester held a narrow 26–23 lead after one.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Riders Fight Back
Former Rider Duke Shelton made an impact early in the second, as Manchester’s size and physicality caused problems. Donald Carey Jr kept Leicester ticking offensively, while Battle and Travis Evee chipped in to maintain pressure. Patrick Smith Jr proved a real threat for the visitors, but Leicester finished the half strongly to level the game at 42–42.
Momentum Swings
Manchester again came out firing in the third, but back-to-back triples from Battle reignited the home crowd. Marc Loving continued to settle in, reaching double figures, while Leicester battled turnovers and physical defence to stay within touching distance. Despite late momentum swings, Manchester edged ahead 69–65 heading into the fourth.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Late Drama Again
With qualification hopes on the line, the Riders dug deep. Tomiwa Sulaiman hit some big shots, Aaron Menzies battled inside, and Carey Jr continued to pull the strings, registering his 10th assist on a Nate Martin dunk. Just like in Cheshire, Leicester forced late drama, tying the game at 94–94 to send it to overtime.
Overtime Heroics
Spencer Johnson opened overtime with a strong finish as both teams traded shots. Max Jones reached 30 points for Manchester, but Carey Jr delivered a huge three with 12 seconds remaining to put Leicester ahead. One final clutch play saw Carey Jr find Johnson once again, who sealed the win at the buzzer.
Leicester Riders 111–108 Manchester Basketball (OT)
Despite exiting the Trophy, the Riders continue their strong run of form, making it six wins in seven as they build momentum heading into the second half of the Championship.
