The Marshall Milton Keynes Lions suffered their second successive British Basketball League defeat when beaten by the Newcastle Eagles in a thrilling encounter at Bletchley Leisure Centre on Friday.

Having started the league term with wins over the Cheshire Jets and London Capital, Lions have now lost out to the Guildford Heat and now the Eagles.

Eagles thus gained revenge for their narrow defeat against Lions in last season's BBL Cup final at the National Indoor Arena, Lions also beating them in the semi-finals of the end of season play-offs.

But Eagles, who won all four league games against Lions last season, maintained their 100 per cent league record this campaign.

Andrew Bridge was the star man for the Eagles with 22 points for the eventual victors, but it was Eagles' Trey Moore who held his nerve from the foul-line to make four from four in the final 30 seconds of the game to secure the win.

Lions started witha 6-0 run but Eagles hit back with a 10-0 run, the visitors leading 20-13 at the first break.

Eagles still held a 41-33 lead at half time btu the gap narrowed in the third session, Lions going into the final quarter just 65-63 adrift.

Four mintes into the stanza and the teams were level on 72-72 and Eagles then only managed one score in three minutes.

Lions edged 75-74 ahead before Eagles hit a 9-2 run to lead 83-77. Terrell Brown hit two free throws to reduce the gap to 83-79 but Eagles then again hit two from the line to lead 85-79.

Lions' Yorick Williams was fouled on a three-point attempt but could only convert two free throws but Eagles added yet another two free throws in the time remaining to seal a close and thrilling win.

>> Lions next entertain the Leicester Riders at Bletchley Leisure Centre at 7.30pm.

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