Preview » Newcastle Eagles v Bristol Flyers

Newcastle Eagles are the most successful club in BBL history. Their record speaks for itself: seven BBL league titles, six BBL trophies and winners of the Play-offs six times.

Although Eagles started this season exceptionally strong by notching eight straight wins, Newcastle’s form dropped for a stretch. After a string of losses against Glasgow, Leicester and London, Newcastle surrendered the first seed and have remained in second for the majority of the season.

Fab Flournoy has been Head Coach of this historically great franchise since the 2003/04 season. The lowest Newcastle have finished under Flournoy is third, in 2006/07, and Eagles still became BBL Play-off champions.

Coach Fab also had a successful career as a player. The 6’3 shooting guard was a student at NCAA Division one college McNeese State University and played in the BBL for the Birmingham Bullets and Eagles, respectively.

The Newcastle Eagles concluded last season with a second place finish and a BBL Cup final victory over Glasgow Rocks. Although Eagles enjoyed a deep Play-off run, they eventually lost to the champion Leicester Riders 84-63.

Newcastle Eagles have the leading scorer in the BBL with Jasean Paige. The American is averaging 24 points per game on 53% shooting. Eagles’ 6’2 point guard can flat out overwhelm his opponents with his shot making and his ability to spread the ball around; he enters the contest averaging 5.8 assists per game. Paige is also a pest on the defensive end, by hounding opposing guards he notches two steals per game. 

Not only do Eagles have the leading scorer, but their shooting guard Saah Nimely is a handful too. Nimely is averaging 17 points and 5.3 assists per game. Simply put, Newcastle boasts one of the most talented backcourts in the BBL. Coach K will need to slow both guards down to have a chance of beating Newcastle. 

Flyers lost their first game of 2018, as they suffered an 80-87 defeat to the visiting Newcastle Eagles.

Despite Rohndell Goodwin leading the way with 19 points and six rebounds and three assists, Flyers were unable to overcome a 19 point second-half deficit. 

Newcastle Eagles lead the league in scoring with 94.1 points per game.

FORM

Newcastle Eagles - WLWW
Bristol Flyers - LWWL

Friday’s game will be available to watch LIVE via the BBL’s official streaming partner, LiveBaketball.TV (subscription) - click here to sign up NOW.

You can also watch the game for free at Dough Ballers Pizzeria at Ashton Gate stadium.