MK beat Midland rivals

MK Lions gained back to back league victories with a tight 77-75 victory over their local rivals the Leicester Riders. The hosts came within an inch of victory to complete one of the greatest comebacks in their history but unfortunately they succumbed to their first defeat in five games.

Demarius Bolds was the MVP of the game with 19 points for the visitors while Dan Northern had an excellent double double of 16 points and 18 rebounds. Ayron Hardy led all scorers with 20 points personal.

The Lions went on a first half rout that decided the game. A 16 point unanswered run spear headed by Bolds with 9 points secured a healthy 18-4 lead. MK capitalised on this early advantage to finish the period 29-10 in front.

Things only got better as the scoring expanded into the second half with the hosts still restricted at 35-10. GB Captain Drew Sullivan led a short comeback supported by Bradd Wierzbicki in a 9-2 surge. They went on another run towards the end of the quarter to take the score to 45-35 at the break.

The two sides exchanged buckets up until 53-44 before a 7-0 streak that brought the Riders within one basket at 53-51. Leicester’s opponents finished the quarter strongly with five points in the final minute to make the score 63-56 heading into the final stanza.

A pulsating finale soon took place. Hardy and Wierzbicki cu the deficit to 70-68 with only two minutes to play. With 1.20 to play Cameron Rundles made it a one point game with a free-throw and, amazingly, Wierzbicki’s steal sent Rundles running to put the Riders into the lead at 75-74 with 43 seconds to play. But the visitors held their nerve and Adrien Sturt scored a three-pointer with four seconds left to win the game.