Marshall MK Lions became the first team to secure a semi-final berth in the BBL Championship Play-offs after a 105-93 victory over the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks at the Bletchley Leisure Centre on Wednesday evening live on Setanta Sports.
Both sides traded baskets in the early exchanges, but it was the Rocks who took the early ascendency with an 8-0 burst to lead 10-17.
A Dru Spinks three-pointer, and four points from Michael New bought the Lions back immediately to 17-17.
The Lions scored five of the first seven points at the start of the second period to take the score out to 32- 24.
The home side continued to pull away and led 43- 34 midway through the quarter, but the Rocks bought the deficit to two points at 45-43 off the back of a 9-2 burst.
The Lions held a slender three-point advantage at 53-50 going in at the half. The second half saw both sides trading baskets in the early going before the Lions went on a decisive 11-6 tear to take the score out to 71-63.
They held on to take a 75-68 lead into the final stanza. In the final quarter, the Lions continued to take charge, and three-pointers from Tony Windless and Yorrick Williams gave the home side an 89-76 lead.
The Rocks began to resort to fouling the Lions to send them to the foul-line, but the Lions maintained their cool, and netted 12/14 free throws in the closing stages to secure the victory.
Williams was the leading scorer on the night with 27 points for the Lions, while Sterling Davis led the Rocks scoring with 24.
*Report courtesy of British Baksetball League.
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