London Capital end losing streak with victory over Riders

PAWS London Capital snapped a seven-game losing streak in the BBL Championship, and scored a crucial win in the chase for a BBL Championship Playoff place, as they beat the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders by 58-67. Vitally, the win also tied the season series with their positional rivals.

The visitors opened the game with three points from Tayo Ogendengbe, before Chad McKnight and Darren Mills responded for the Riders. The hosts held a 10-7 lead, before Pierre Henry-Fontaine sank a three-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play to see his team 10-13 to the good after ten minutes.

The teams traded baskets through the second period as London still led at 20-24 with 3:00 left. On a Barry Lamble deuce and a triple from Mindaugas Janiska, the Riders took the lead at 25-24. Yet, once again, an individual stepped up for the Londoners as Sam Bradley scored the last 7 points of the half to keep them in front.

That lead was maintained during the third stanza until the visitors got in foul trouble. The Riders shot 6/6 from the line to narrow the gap to 44-47 and then, after a Bradley three-pointer, they hit the next 5/6 from the charity stripe for a one-point deficit at 50-51 going into the decisive stanza. They shot 13/15 from the free-throw line during the third quarter.

Darren Mills gave the Riders the lead with the first 4 points of the fourth quarter, before the visitors took control. Bradley and Ogendengbe scored baskets before Santa Ataha hit back-to-back three-pointers for a 54-61 lead. The Capital then managed to close out the last two minutes with foul shots.

Bradley led all scorers with 18, whilst Ataha added 14. Chad McKnight led the resistance with 14 points.

Article by Dave Ryan.

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