Manchester Basketball took their second ENBL victory of the season, beating Brussels Basketball 66-78.

Kaiyem Cleary led the team with 21 points and 7 rebounds in 24 minutes of action. He played emphatically on both ends, also adding 2 blocks and a steal to his box score.

Cleary was supported by Zak Irvin’s 18 points and 10 rebounds, as the American put up an impressive double-double.

Manchester had five players score in double figures in a complete team display. But it was the work they did on the defensive end that earned them a win in their first European road game in the club’s history.

Brussels were held to 37.3% shooting from the field, and their leading scorer on the night, Jared Ambrose, scored only 13 points. Manchester’s Belgian opponents had only two scorers in double figures on the game, as testament to the visitors’ defensive tenacity.

An explosive start to the game saw Manchester make their presence felt early. They led by 14 through just five minutes as Irvin scored six quick points. It was a lead the team would never surrender, leading from the front for 40 minutes.

Brussels showed heart to cut the lead to four early in the fourth quarter, but Manchester wouldn’t allow them to build any offensive rhythm down the stretch. They ultimately won the fourth convincingly, led by a scoring explosion from Cleary, Ivrin, and Jordan Johnson.

The win improves Manchester to 2-1 in the ENBL, a successful start to their first European campaign.

Manchester return home for Super League Basketball Championship action on Friday, October 31. The game will be played at the National Basketball Performance Centre at 7.30 pm. You can get tickets here!