Basketball
Wolves miss out on top spot

Buy photos » Wolves' leading scorer Richie Gordon talks tactics with Arnas Kazlauskas during their side's defeat to Leicester Riders. Picture by Keith Hunt.

WORCESTER Wolves missed out on moving to the top of the BBL Championship after an impressive second half display from the Leicester Riders earned the visitors a comfortable 99-75 win at the University of Worcester.

It was a tale of two halves on Wednesday night as the Wolves surrendered an 11 point lead, before their Midland rivals turned the screw and showed why they are regarded as one of the favourites for this year's BBL title.

The defeat was Wolves first at home in the league this season as Leicester moved up to third place in the Championship.

Paul James' side began well with Richie Gordon and Lithuanian Arnas Kazlauskas starring to give Wolves a 27-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second period saw Wolves stay ahead of the Riders and Sherrad Prezzie-Blue's third score from distance gave the home side a 37-29 lead before Wolves' extended their lead to 11 points.

But the turning point came in the very late stages of the first half when the impressive Brad Wierzbicki grabbed two vital three-pointers to reduce Leicester's deficit to just five points at the interval.

The three-pointers changed the game as Leicester had the momentum they needed going into the second half.

And a poor third quarter from the home side helped Leicester to take the lead for the first time in the match with an incredible 16 points from Cameron Rundles enabling the visitors take full control going into the final quarter.

Things got much worse for Wolves when forward Tommy Freeman was sent off for his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game and more accurate shooting from Leicester gave the Riders a comfortable win.

Wolves are back in action on Friday night when they travel to MK Lions.