Leicester Riders saw their Super League Basketball Cup hopes come to an end despite a dominant first half, as Surrey 89ers produced a huge second-half comeback to claim a 102–94 victory at the Mattioli Arena.
The Riders burst out of the blocks and set the tone early, racing into a commanding lead behind hot perimeter shooting and relentless defensive pressure. RaeQuan Battle and Spencer Johnson led the charge as Leicester surged into double-digit advantage within the opening minutes, forcing Surrey into early timeouts.
Credit: Leicester Riders | Nathan Green
That momentum carried into the second quarter as Riders’ bench production proved decisive. Travis Evee, Marc Loving and Flynn Boardman-Raffet all made an impact, while Aaron Menzies controlled the paint at both ends. Leicester moved the ball sharply and punished Surrey turnovers to open up a lead that stretched beyond 20 points, heading into the break firmly in control.
The third quarter initially followed a similar pattern. Donald Carey Jr orchestrated the offence effectively, combining with Battle and Loving as Riders pushed their advantage to its largest margin of the night. However, Surrey began to find rhythm late in the period, sparked by increased defensive intensity and timely scoring from Kino Lily Jr and Isiah Small.
That momentum swung fully in the fourth quarter. Surrey ramped up the pressure, forcing turnovers and living at the free-throw line as Ronald Polite III and Tyrin Lawrence chipped away at the deficit. Despite Riders efforts to respond through Carey Jr and Spencer Johnson, Surrey’s efficiency in crunch time proved decisive.
Credit: Leicester Riders | Nathan Green
A late Leicester push briefly cut the gap to two, but clutch free throws and key defensive rebounds allowed the visitors to close out the contest. Surrey outscored the Riders heavily in the final quarter to seal the comeback and progress to the Cup semi-finals.
It was a frustrating end for Rob Paternostro’s side after such a strong opening, with the first-half performance showing exactly what the Riders are capable of. Attention now turns back to league action as Leicester for look to respond next Friday as Surrey 89ers return to the Mattioli Arena.
