Glasgow Rocks pulled off a dramatic 88-84 victory over Plymouth Raiders to move into third place in the British Basketball League with just two games of the season to go.
With one eye on the forthcoming play-offs, the significance of their rally at the Emirates Arena could ultimately be huge.
The hosts, led by 16 points and nine rebounds from Lewis Thomas, were 53-39 down in the second quarter and short of both ideas and energy. However, a 10-0 run in the fourth drew them level before Neil Watson capped the comeback from the foul line in the final minute.
“That was a special game,” Rocks coach Sterling Davis said. “There hasn’t been many times when we’ve been under that much pressure but come out on top.
"We were up and down over the course of the game, but we showed resilience to get the job done and our main guys stepped up down the final stretch.”
With Plymouth arriving late, and with only six players available, Glasgow looked set to easily profit when they raced 23-12 clear in the opening exchanges but they were speedily reined in.
Anton Grady – who brilliantly corralled 29 points and 17 boards – ignited the visitors and a quickfire 16-2 burst propelled the Devon outfit 55-43 in front at half-time.
“In the first half I didn’t feel like our effort was there,” said Davis. “We challenged each other to being more in the second half and it came.”
With Hayden Lescault an active presence, the Rocks steadily reduced the deficit but it was a three-pointer from Thomas that keyed a decisive surge that saw the Scots reel off the closing seven points of the contest.
“Plymouth made big shot after big shot,” Davis added. “But when we needed stops in the fourth quarter they came, and we let our defence spur us on.”
Elsewhere, London Lions – who still hold an outside chance of ending up in the top four - defeated 111-88 Leicester Riders with the newly-crowned champions opting to field a largely second-string team. While Surrey Scorchers edged out Newcastle Eagles 112-111 in overtime to intensity the three-way battle with Bristol Flyers and Plymouth for the last two remaining playoff berths.
RESULTS. BBL. Glasgow Rocks 88 Plymouth Raiders 84, London Lions 111 Leicester Riders 88, Surrey Scorchers 112 Newcastle Eagles 111 OT
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