Graphic: Mārtiņš Zaļūksnis
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles joined the big British basketball party and posted their first European win after a 87-81 home success against Basket Brno on Tuesday, October 31, at the Vertu Motors arena in northern England.
Players of the game
Jordan Nathaniel Johnson shined bright for the winners.
A former Milwaukee and UNLV point guard scored a team high 25 points on 7/14 shooting from the floor and 9/11 from the charity stripe.
Johnson had a team high eight dimes.
Tajh Green chipped in with huge 20 points.
Big man grabbed 13 boards, including six on the offensive end.
Benedict College star made two steals as well.
Rickey McGill had 11 points and six assists.
A former Iona Gael filled the stat sheet with seven rebounds and three steals.
Tomas Zdanavičius led all scorers with 29 points.
Brno big man contributed with nine rebounds and four blocks.
Ondrej Šiška had 12 points and a game high 10 assists in his ENBL debut.
Greg Lee provided another bright spark for the Czech team.
Penn State standout posted 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Key stats
Newcastle Eagles won the battle of the boards, 42-40, especially on the offensive end, 15-6.
Marc Steutel`s men scored more second chance points, 11-7.
The hosts excelled on fast breaks, 29-2, and turned the ball over just eight times.
Brno had 19 turnovers.
The Czech team stayed in the game, thanks to Zdanavičius as he scored from everywhere.
Game notes
Newcastle Eagles improved to 1-1.
The British team lost the ENBL opener at Šiauliai.
Basket Brno entered their third season in the league and looked solid.
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Format
Four best teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs (A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1).
The 2024 playoffs – home and away, best-of-two series – will take place from February 1 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.
Standings, as of October 31, 2023
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 2-0 (+31)
Bristol Flyers 1-1 (+16)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle 1-0 (+15)
Svendborg Rabbits 0-1 (-15)
Spartak Pleven 0-1 (-17)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 0-1 (-30)
Hapoel Beer Sheva
Tartu Ulikool Maks&Moorits
Group B
Zastal Zielona Gora 2-1 (+9)
Šiauliai 2-1 (-16)
CSO Voluntari 1-1 (+21)
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 1-1 (+4)
Royal Basket Liège 1-0 (+23)
Valmiera Glass ViA 0-1 (-6)
Basket Brno 0-1 (-6)
Keila Coolbet 0-1 (-29)
Tie-breaker: Zielona Gora vs Šiauliai 1-0, +26.