Men
WOMen
March 4, 2026
Game Report: London Lions 71-72 MCR
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Manchester Basketball beat the league-leading London Lions on the road 71-72 in the Super League Basketball Championship.
It was a preview of the upcoming SLB Cup Final in Manchester later this month, which the club can now take significant confidence into after knocking off the Lions in their building.
Max Jones led this hard-fought clutch victory with 23 points and 5 assists, and dished the assist to the game winner from Tim Adetukasi, who scored with 15 seconds remaining.
Gabe Osabuohien & Max Jones then sealed the game, combining to swat away Shavar Reynolds Jr’s attempted game-winner with just three seconds on the clock, sealing a crucial win in London for Manchester.
Pjay Smith also continued to step up in the biggest games of the season. He scored 18 points from the point, knocking down four of his six three-point attempts. Manchester shot 8-18 from three on the night in a fourth-quarter comeback win.
With under a minute left in the third quarter, Manchester trailed by 11 points, but an and-one from Jones in the fourth flipped the momentum. The visitors scored nine straight points to rally back, and the game was suddenly in the balance.
Smith’s three with 2:56 on the clock made it a one-possession game for the first time since midway through the third quarter, and Jones tied it up 20 seconds later at 66.
London looked to have found some separation, going up three with a minute left, thanks to free throws from Joel Scott, but Manchester had one last surge in the tank.
Jones fought to the foul line and made both clutch free throws before rebounding his own missed layup and finding Adetukasi for what proved to be the game-winner.
London’s final attempt was a layup from Reynolds, which Osabuohien blocked to win the game.
The win improves Manchester's record to 12-10 on the season, and gives them confidence that they can repeat this feat later in the month with the Cup on the line.
Next, they play the Caledonia Gladiators in league action at the National Basketball Performance Centre. The game will take place on Friday, March 6, at 7.30pm.
Manchester Basketball beat the league-leading London Lions on the road 71-72 in the Super League Basketball Championship.
It was a preview of the upcoming SLB Cup Final in Manchester later this month, which the club can now take significant confidence into after knocking off the Lions in their building.
Max Jones led this hard-fought clutch victory with 23 points and 5 assists, and dished the assist to the game winner from Tim Adetukasi, who scored with 15 seconds remaining.
Gabe Osabuohien & Max Jones then sealed the game, combining to swat away Shavar Reynolds Jr’s attempted game-winner with just three seconds on the clock, sealing a crucial win in London for Manchester.
Pjay Smith also continued to step up in the biggest games of the season. He scored 18 points from the point, knocking down four of his six three-point attempts. Manchester shot 8-18 from three on the night in a fourth-quarter comeback win.
With under a minute left in the third quarter, Manchester trailed by 11 points, but an and-one from Jones in the fourth flipped the momentum. The visitors scored nine straight points to rally back, and the game was suddenly in the balance.
Smith’s three with 2:56 on the clock made it a one-possession game for the first time since midway through the third quarter, and Jones tied it up 20 seconds later at 66.
London looked to have found some separation, going up three with a minute left, thanks to free throws from Joel Scott, but Manchester had one last surge in the tank.
Jones fought to the foul line and made both clutch free throws before rebounding his own missed layup and finding Adetukasi for what proved to be the game-winner.
London’s final attempt was a layup from Reynolds, which Osabuohien blocked to win the game.
The win improves Manchester's record to 12-10 on the season, and gives them confidence that they can repeat this feat later in the month with the Cup on the line.
Next, they play the Caledonia Gladiators in league action at the National Basketball Performance Centre. The game will take place on Friday, March 6, at 7.30pm.
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