Record bid ended as Guildford spoil Leicester party

Posted: Monday 16th February 2009 | 10:45

LEICESTER Riders suffered their first BBL Championship defeat of 2009 and lost ground on the top two as they were downed 99-89 at the Guildford Heat.

The Riders, who trail Everton Tigers and Newcastle Eagles at the top, were targeting a club record eighth successive win but fell short as the Heat inspired by EJ Harrison's 23 points spoiled the party to record an eighth win in nine in all competitions.

Keonta Howell also scored 20 for the hosts while the Riders were led by veteran forward Tony Windless as he scored 23 points.

The game had been tight in the opening eight minutes but ex-Rider Chad McKnight and Harrison took the game away from Leicester in the second quarter, combining to help the home side to a 15-4 second quarter run and extend Guildford's lead past the 20-point mark.

Windless did his best to drag Riders back into the game with 14 points in the final quarter but, although he twice cut the deficit to only eight points, Riders could get no closer.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Plymouth Raiders beat Worthing Thunder 106-89, while Cheshire Jets defeated the Scottish Rocks 87-78 in Glasgow for a fourth straight win.