Box Score: MK Breakers 89-81 Loughborough Riders
MK Breakers made it three wins in a row as they overcame Loughborough Riders 89-81 at Bletchley Leisure Centre on Wednesday Evening.
Jordan Spencer played all 40-minutes in the win as he netted 26 points and picked up six assists, Nate Robinson also played the full game and netted 14 points. Adrian Scarborough impressed with 28-points and eight rebounds, with Kai Walker also hitting double digits with 13 points.
It was a slow start at Bletchley Leisure Centre with both sides struggling to find their momentum with Adrian Scarborough’s layup the only points on the board after two minutes of action. He would then convert his and-one play to put the Breakers up by five early on. Onyia would net the first points of the game for the visitors, before he netted three more points to give the Riders the lead for the first time. Justin Hedley then sunk his three-point effort to extend the gap to four points, but Kai Walker’s first points of the evening made it a one possession game.
Walker and Scarborough would both put two points on the board to bring the scores level, but Joiner would score on back-to-back possessions to ensure they would go up by four. Spencer and Walker added two points each to once again bring the Breakers level, with Spencer netting once from the line to give the Breakers the lead. Scarborough would make that difference three points with his layup. The final points of the half came via Jordan Spencer as he concluded a 9-0 run for the Breakers to put them up 20-15 at the end of the half.
That run continued following the interval as Kai Walker’s dunk gave the Breakers their biggest lead of the game, which Nate Robinson extended as he added a point from the free throw line. The Riders managed to end the Breakers 12-0 run as Ndoukou hit five points in quick succession, but Spencer’s layup kept the Breakers up by five.
Romario Spence put his first points up after Kai Walker’s quick feet, but Ndoukou’s three-point play kept the Riders within touching distance of the lead. Jordan Spencer, however, hit straight back with his deep three pointer, ensuring the Breakers would lead by eight with just under six-minutes left in the first half.
Chris Tawiah and Justin Hedley exchanged two points each, before Joiner sunk his effort from beyond the arc to bring his side to within four points of the Breakers. Spencer then hit his second three pointer of the evening before Spencer added another point from the line. Joiner and Spencer would both convert layups leaving the Breakers with an eight point lead with two minutes left on the clock.
Karras would add two important points before Romario Spencer raised the roof with his dunk after effortlessly dropping his man. The Riders, however, kept the pace with the Breakers as they trailed by just three points after Hedley’s and one play. Jordan Spencer would go to the line with seconds remaining in the half and would convert both his efforts ensuring the Breakers led 42-37 at the break.
Tickets: MK Breakers vs Essex Rebels Sunday 6th April
Adrian Scarborough took himself into double digits as he scored the first points of the third, but buckets from Jointer and Ndoukou pulled the Riders to within three of the lead. Joiner further reduced the lead with his two points, before Ndoukou took the lead for the first time since midway through the second quarter. That lead didn’t last long as Spencer hit back with two points of his own, with Robinson doing the same moments later.
Ndoukou was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Breakers as he grabbed an offensive board before adding two more points. Joiner would then give his side the lead after converting two layups, but Kai Walker would bring the Breakers back level after his three-point play. Spencer would take himself to 20-points after converting twice from the line, but the lead would swing back in favour of the Riders after Nyarko’s three pointer. Jordan Spencer, however, would convert his buzzer-beating three-point effort to ensure the Breakers held a 56-54 lead heading into the final quarter.
Adrian Scarborough started the fourth quarter with two dunks in a row before Kai Walker followed suit shortly after. Nyako and Joiner, however, cut into the Breakers lead to ensure their gap sat at just three points despite their positive start. Nate Robinson would add two from the line giving the Breakers a five-point lead, but such was the story of the game, the Riders hit back this time through Hedley’s layup.
Yet another foul from the Riders sent Jordan Spencer to the line, he would make both his efforts to put the Breakers back up by five points. This time it was the Breakers who scored the next bucket as Nate Robinson effortlessly converted his three-point effort giving the Breakers an eight point lead.
Ndoukou would score two of his three free throws to bring that gap to six points, but Scarborough would add two more points at the other end. Ndoukou, however, would hit his three-point effort to bring the Riders to within five points of the lead with a little over four minutes left to play.
Scarborough would continue his impressive quarter hit yet another two points, but Nyarko would add three points to make the gap four points. Nate Robinson, however, would add three points to put the Breakers back ahead by seven. That lead didn’t last long, however, as Ndoukou would achieve the same feat leaving the gap back at four points. Scarborough would take himself over the 20-point mark with his bucket, before adding three points on his and one play, not before Spencer would add one from the line following a technical foul.
The lead following a flurry of points sat at 10 points in favour of the Breakers, however, Joiner would add three points to bring the lead back to seven. The Riders 19th foul of the game took Nate Robinson to the line who made two from two, with Onyia adding two making it a seven-point game with under a minute left on the clock.
Hedley pulled the Riders to within six points as he converted from the line, but the Breakers managed the clock well before Robinson went to the line with the difference just four points. Robinson would make one of his two free throws leaving the difference at five points, before Hedley was sent to the line, who like Robinson only converted once. Scarborough’s dunk sealed the deal before in the closing seconds the same man netted yet another dunk to secure a 89-81 win for the Breakers.
The Breakers are back in action on Sunday for their final game of the regular season as they host Essex Rebels. The game has great significance on who finishes 4th, with the Rebels just 2 points behind the Breakers in the table. Tickets availbale HERE.
