Stewart grabbed 17 points during the vital victory

Newcastle's 82-68 win against Milton Keynes was marred by an injury to captain Andrew Bridge in a physical battle at the Arena on Saturday.

The Eagles star staggered out of the game in the third quarter to receive stitches for a face injury.

His plight appeared to spur his team-mates on as they went on to win and move a step closer to securing the British Basketball League Championship.

Lynard Stewart top scored for the Eagles with 17 points.

It was the Lions who made the brighter start to the game as Yorick Williams weighed in with 10 first-quarter points to give his side the advantage at the break.

Both sides struggled with turnovers but it was the Eagles who gradually began to wrestle control of the game, with a 11-2 break in the second quarter to give them the half-time lead.

I don't think we're complacent, we're lazy, to put it mildly, Newcastle Eagles player coach Fab Flournoy

The Eagles continued to dominate the floor into the final period, holding the Lions to just 13 points and out-rebounding them in the game by 22 rebounds.

The win puts Newcastle back on track after last week's disappointment against Guildford.

Despite seeing his side go eight points clear at the top of the table, Eagles player coach Fab Flournoy is far from satisfied with the level of recent performances.

"We've been sitting on top of the league for the whole season and we've started to feel that it's in the bag and consequently we're playing that way - we're not playing with any true grit.

"I don't think we're complacent, we're lazy, to put it mildly, and that's the mildest way that I can put it without using any bad language.

"You'll see our best basketball and worst basketball in the same quarter."