Basketball: Meldrum's spurt keeps Tigers top

Thames Valley Tigers hold pole position in the British Basketball League's Southern Conference after defeating Leicester Riders 95-92 at Bracknell on Saturday.

Greg Meldrum scored an impressive nine three-pointers in his 32-point haul, but Tigers had to withstand a late Riders rally, despite taking a 63-53 advantage with an 18-4 burst and still leading 86-73 inside the final quarter.

Riders came back to trail just 94-92 on a Jermaine Brown basket before Shawn Davison made the game safe with a single free throw.

The Tigers next game is on Thursday at bottom-club Birmingham Bullets, who have nine games in hand over them.

Riders' defeat at Tigers allowed Newcastle Eagles to close the gap on their third place with a 104-85 cruise at Derby Storm. The Eagles took control with runs of 8-0 and 10-0 in the third and final quarters.

Sheffield Sharks, who re-signed former player Todd Cauthorn before the game, drew level with Chester Jets on Friday night by beating them 90-82. Sheffield scored 16 consecutive points in the fourth, holding Jets scoreless for four minutes.

Cauthorn scored 13 points on his debut last night as Sheffield beat Birmingham 91-80 in a BBL Trophy group game.