Two big wins for Plymouth Raiders

Beckles hit 32 points against the Eagles to lead the Raiders to victory

Plymouth Raiders secured two vital wins at the weekend, beating league leaders Newcastle Eagles and winning the first leg of their BBL Cup semi- final.

Kabama Beckles had his best night since joining the club as he hit 32 points in Saturday's 88-85 win over the Eagles.

The Raiders then drew first blood in Sunday's BBL Cup semi-final first leg against Guildford Heat, winning 80-73.

Drew Lasker top scored with 18 points as Plymouth took a seven-point lead into Wednesday's second leg.

The Eagles took an early 12-2 lead, but the Raiders clawed it back to trail by two points at the end of the first quarter.

The lead changed hands six times in the second quarter before the Raiders, spurred on by Beckles, took a 48-41 half-time lead.

It was a lead Plymouth never surrendered, despite a late surge which saw the Eagles get within two points of their hosts, before they clawed out an 88-85 win.

Sunday's win in the first leg of the cup at Guildford saw the Raiders three points down at half time.

But a superb third-quarter performance at the Spectrum saw them reclaim the lead with an 11-3 run towards the end of the third quarter.

It gave them a seven-point lead which they held onto until the final buzzer.

As well as Lasker's 18 points, Gaylon Moore hit 17 and Terrence Durham had 13.

The second leg is at the Pavilions on Wednesday, 26 November.