Marshall MK Lions 101 (20,41,70,90)
Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders 104 (25,52,73,90)

The Leicester have now won five of their last seven games to continue their assault on the top four, following third defeat of the the Lions. It was though, Yorick Williams who stole the show, scoring an amazing ten three-pointers on his way to 36 points in vain for the Lions.

The Riders were on the verge of victory in regulation as they were 81-86 in the ascendancy with minutes remaining before Williams and Bradd Wierzbicki of the Riders exchanged triples to make the score 84-89 entering the last minute of the game. After a Mike New free-throw, Williams hit another three and it was a one-point game at 88-89 with 48 seconds left. Wierzbicki could only make 1from 2 at the line, allowing Dawud Morris to tie the teams at 90 with 12 seconds on the clock.

The Lions took the lead on another Williams triple early in overtime, but LaTaryl Williams responded with 6 straight points for the Riders to help them into a 95-98 edge. Yorick tied the game once more from beyond the arc, before the Riders won the game from the free-throw line within the last minute, despite Robert Youngblood's triple with 7 seconds remaining which made the score 101-104.

The home side, still missing EJ Harrison and Frank Holmes watched as typically, the game had started with both teams making trips to the free-throw line - both sides had committed three fouls within the opening three minutes as they exchanged baskets to an 8-8 tie, with Mike New netting 6 points for the Lions. Four quick lead changes ensued, and the Lions established a 20-18 edge on a Yorick Williams three-pointer, but it wouldn't last for long. The Riders posted an 11-0 burst across the first quarter break as Johnson scored 8 points to send them into a 20-29 lead a minute into the second. Williams made two three-pointers to help the Lions regain their feet and narrow the deficit to 29-33 as he reached 14 points, including 4 of 4 triples, in the first thirteen minutes. The Lions got back to within one at 36-37 before LaTaryl Williams scored 7 straight points for the visitors, who went on to take a 41-52 lead into the locker rooms at the half.

Veterans, Mike New and Robert Youngblood have rolled back the years in the last two games covering for the in jured Frank Holmes.

Craig Pringle and Max Simon had both seen action in the first half for the Lions as the third quarter saw the visitors increase their ascendancy. With Riders ahead b y 16 points, Dawud Morris suddenly flashed to life as he found the basket several times, this allyed with good inside work from New and Youngblood saw the Lions peg their visitors back to 70-73 in the third quarter to set up the exciting finale.

Once in the fourth it was nip and tuck and just after Morris tied things up, Youngblood rebounded a missed Riders shot and sent Williams off on a fastbreak with only seconds left, instead of driving hard to the basket, Williams chose to seek out Dru Spinks to finish things off, but his pass was intercepted setting up the dramatic overtime period.

Lions boss, Vince Macaulay was philosophical after the loss, “We gave everything we had, coming back from so far down and having a chance to win it was testament to how hard these guys are working, with a break here or there, we had it, we look forward to next weekend now and see if we can get some of our inured players back in the groove.”

Former GB guard, Yorick Williams turned in a long range shooting performance not seen by anyone this season, nailing 10 of 12 three pointers

Lions Scorers; Williams 36, Morris 19, New 18
Riders; Johnson 27, Wierzbicki 25, L Williams 23.