Leicester Riders won their fourth League game on the bounce by beating Surrey 89ers on the road 89-72.
Charles Thompson’s dominant display led the Riders from the frontcourt with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks, locking off the paint from wire to wire with his relentless effort and energy.
Zach Jackson followed up with 17 points, sealing the deal with a run of buckets in the final period. Meanwhile Riley Abercrombie notched a double-double with 13 and 12, and a three to end the night.
Leicester’s bench also won the battle of the second units 23-9, led by Ethan Wright’s 8 points.
The Riders won despite shooting 3-7 from the foul line to Surrey’s 17-22. Mervin James led the game with 22 for the 89ers, going 7-11 from the field.
Thompson leads dominant start
Fresh off his Team of the Week selection last weekend, Thompson scored six straight points to start the game to stamp his authority on the paint. He threw down a monster jam for his third bucket of the game after getting the switch in the pick and roll.
Thompson has 6 points, 3 rebounds and a big time block in the opening three minutes, his block on Cameron Gooden setting up a Jackson finish on the break. Leicester led 10-2 to start the game.
Hunter, from the point, played aggressively in the first to get to the teeth of Surrey’s defence. He scored six at the hoop in the first quarter.
Duke Shelton closed the quarter for Leicester with a hard-fought rebound and a post hook over James, but James returned the favour with a closely contested fadeaway over Shelton on the buzzer to make it 17-24 after one.
Leicester build on lead in the second
Conner Washington checked into the game in the second to hit back-to-back triples off the bench. But James, in rhythm after the end of the first, brought his game tally to 13 with his first three of the game to keep Surrey in contention.
Thompson re-entered the fray after sitting with two fouls and scored his tenth points immediately, before contesting Dame Adelekun in the post and giving him an empty trip down the court.
Abercrombie drained his first three of the game to make the score 45-31, and Thompson finished the flurry with a two-handed jam on the break to bring his game tally to 12. James ended the half with a bucket, and the sides entered the break with the Riders up 14.
Riders respond to Surrey flurry
Hunter led the team out the half with five points, including a tough floater through contact and a three from the wing. Abercrombie followed with a three from the top as Leicester extended their lead.
A string of Riders turnovers opened the door for a Surrey run, however, with Adelekun scoring on back-to-back possessions on the fastbreak. The second bucket was a finish from a lob pass from Di-Jani Parkinson, and the score was 49-60 with 2:30 left in the period.
The 89ers momentum caused a Riders timeout from Head Coach Rob Paternostro, as Leicester looked to steal the sway of the game back. Thompson and Jackson combined for 6 points once the team had regathered, rebuilding the lead at the hoop.
Jordan Hunt shot hope back into the Niners on the buzzer, however, making a miracle three to make the host’s deficit 15 with one left.
Riders see it out through Jackson
Blake Bowman started the fourth aggressively with a drive inside, euro stepping for two. Wright followed with his second triple from the top as Leicester got off to a hot start in the final period.
Shelton picked up his fifth foul to see him sidelined for the rest of proceedings, and Surrey scored 4 straight points to chip back into it.
But Leicester’s leading scorer Jackson took the game over in it’s pivotal stage. He scored 5 points on the bounce by getting his back to basket and finishing through contact repeatedly.
Thompson and Wright both sent shots away in emphatic fashion late in the fourth, and Hunter sealed the game with a three with a favourable bounce. The 89ers rallied late to cut the score to 13, but it was too little too late for the hosts as Leicester took a professional win.
Trophy semi-final next
The Riders are back in action on Sunday in the Super League Basketball Trophy semi-final against Newcastle Eagles.
