BBL Championship

Chester Jets 96 (26,47,70) (Gregory 24, McCord 22, Davis 21)
Milton Keynes Lions 98 (27,43,65) (Cole 30, Burns 19, New 18)
(After overtime; tied 89-89 after regulation)

Before the game, Chester coach Robbie Peers had rubbished bookmaker's odds that Milton Keynes were 12 point underdogs to beat the Jets.

How right he was.

Hitherto struggling Lions picked up their first win of the season, beating last season's champions 98-95 after overtime on Friday night. 

After a close and exciting first three quarters, it came
down to the fourth period and with the home side leading 89-86 in the final minute, Lions' newest recruit Freddie Cole stepped up to sink a long range shot and force overtime. 

It was nip and tuck in the extra period, but Lions edged it slightly at 96-93 with a minute to go. Calvin Davis reduced the arrears to one point at 96-95, but Joel Burns was fouled by Kenny Gregory and won the game from the foul line. 

Lions, who were led by Freddie Cole's 30 personal points, rise off the bottom of the BBL Championship table.
 

DG Essex Leopards Kool Kats 91 (20,41,53) (Brown 23, Fisher 19, McIntosh 16)
Leicester Riders 99 (15,41,69) (Faulkner 33, Capers 30, Robinson 19)

Leicester Riders picked up their first ever win away to Essex Leopards on Friday night as the hosts' old boys returned in style to spark a 99-91 success at Brentwood. 

Following a relatively close first half, which was tied
at 41-41 at the midway point, Leciester broke the game open with a 20-0 burst in the third quarter.

It gave Riders a 69-50 advantage, which Leopards could not recover from. Six points was the closest
that Leopards got, but it was not enough. 

Jamal Faulkner top scored with 33 points for Leicester, while Rod Brown led Leopards' scoring with 23 personal points and David Fisher added a double double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. 

Riders' duo Kenya Capers and Maurice Robinson contributed 30 and 19 points respectively in their first games against their old club.

"Middle drives, lack of alertness, failure to secure rebounds, no communication and accepting opponent easy baskets all added up to the inability to get stops," was the scathing verdict of Essex coach Mike Taylor. 

"All along, on the offensive end, the Leopards relied on quick shots which rimmed out; --- the one on one saw the Leopards lose their composure and try to jump start the offense individually instead of collectively."

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