London Lions 89
Cook 25, Taylor 21, Sullivan 19, Stibbins 12 Lawson 10 Salter 2
Leicester Riders 75
Watson 21, Roland 13, Hassan 9, Losonsky 8, Washington 7, Bernadini 6, Lamble 6, Anderson 3, Rowe 2
Leicester Riders were unable to make it a weekend double as they wilted in the second half against London Lions in the BBL Championship at the Copper Box on Sunday afternoon 89-75.
Riders were in early foul trouble that limited the contributions from both Tyler Bernadini and Pavol Losonsky.
Neil Watson led the way with 21 points and four rebounds, but it was Riders' old boy Drew Sullivan who made sure of the home victory with 19 points, five rebounds and 10 assists.
Riders raced into an early seven to nil lead courtesy of good work inside by Rashad Hassan and capped by a three-pointer by Watson.
But fired by a trio of three-pointers in succession by Lovell Cook. the home side bounced back with an 11-1 run to take the lead.
A Zaire Taylor three-point play took that lead out to 12-8, and Taylor became increasingly influential as he knocked down successive jumpers on the way to 10 first quarter points.
A rare Derrick Roland three kept Riders in the hunt, and then a couple of quick buckets by Barry Lamble near the end of the first quarter tied the scores on 24 at the break.
Sullivan and Pavol Losonsky traded baskets to open the second period, and the game continued to stay close, until successive three-pointers from Roland and Watson opened up 41-34 lead for Riders, forcing Lions to a timeout.
The Lions gradually crept back into the game from the free-throw line, as Riders racked up the fouls – seven in the quarter compared with just two on the Lions – and a pair of free-throws by Sullivan closed the gap to Riders to one.
But then Roland hit his third three of the half, Watson did the same and, after a hugely entertaining first half, Riders had their noses in front 51-49.
The only downside was Losonsky and Bernadini were both on three fouls in limited minutes.
The Lions took control of the game in the third quarter led by their centre Makal Stibbins, who started to dominate inside. Successive dunks by the big man got the home side in front, Losonsky picked up his fourth foul, and Riders were called for a technical foul.
Cook's fifth three-pointer of the game got London clear, and a Sullivan basket and free-throw turned the screw.
At the end of the third period, Lions were well on top leading 71-60.
Riders were not looking after the ball well enough and Hassan had his fifth turnover of the game early in the fourth period as the Lions' lead ballooned out to 76-62, courtesy of Cook's sixth three-pointer.
Riders knew it was not going to be their night when the mild-mannered Barry Lamble seemed to be mugged under the basket, got called for three seconds, and then picked up a very rare technical foul. Bernadini fouled out not much later.
Ex-Riders star Sullivan was becoming increasingly influential and his three-pointer pushed the lead out to 81-67 with four minutes left.
Watson replied with a three-pointer, but that was as close as it got for a tiring Riders.
