Leicester Riders returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion, closing out the year with an 85–73 victory over Bristol Flyers at the Mattioli Arena. Coming off a hard-fought contest against London Lions, Rob Paternostro’s side delivered a composed and controlled performance against an in form Bristol outfit.
In truth, the Riders rarely looked like they needed to move out of second gear, combining efficient offence with disciplined defence to see out a comfortable win.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The Riders wasted no time asserting themselves. Winning possession, Marc Loving opened the scoring with a triple from the wing on the first play of the game. RaeQuan Battle followed with a smooth jumper before Nate Martin ignited the crowd with a powerful dunk to make it 7–2 inside two minutes.
Leicester continued to push the tempo, quickly building a double-digit lead. Bristol found some rhythm late in the quarter through William Yoakum, who scored five early points, but the Riders remained in control. Flynn Boardman-Raffet attacked the baseline for a strong finish, and Travis Evee capped the quarter with a deep three as Leicester led 26–15.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Riders Find Their Rhythm
Battle continued to find his spots early in the second, while Aaron Menzies provided strong rim protection at the other end. Boardman-Raffet impressed on both sides of the floor, rejecting a Flyers lay-up and causing problems defensively.
The Riders’ ball movement flowed, highlighted by Battle’s monster dunk as Leicester pulled further clear. By halftime, the home side had opened up a commanding 46–32 lead.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Control Maintained After the Break
Bristol struck first in the third through Owen McCormack, trimming the deficit, but the Riders responded calmly. Spencer Johnson knocked down a pull-up jumper as Leicester began to move the ball with purpose.
Despite Bristol showing improved rhythm, the Riders held them at bay. Johnson showcased quick hands for a finish inside, while Martin added a crafty fadeaway. Leicester remained firmly in control, heading into the final quarter up 67–48.
Composed Finish Seals the Win
The Flyers showed intent early in the fourth, with McCormack continuing to put points on the board. Marc Loving, however, stayed red-hot, draining another three from the wing as he continued to gel seamlessly with his teammates following his recent return.
While Battle was quieter offensively by his usual standards, his impact was felt defensively, pulling down seven rebounds, while 7’3” Aaron Menzies dominated the glass with eight boards. The Riders’ collective defensive effort stood out as they protected their lead.
Bristol mounted a late push, briefly cutting the deficit to single digits, but Martin halted the momentum with his second baseline dunk of the night. With 14 seconds remaining, Battle punctuated the performance with a signature triple from the wing to reach 17 points.
The Riders closed out the contest professionally to secure an 85–73 victory, ending the year on a positive note.
