Steven Gayle scored a game-high 28 points to lead Lancashire past Bradford and end the Spinners’ two-game losing streak on Saturday.
Holding a 66-58 advantage with less than two minutes left in the third quarter, Gayle put a stamp on his offensive performance scoring the final seven points to put the Spinners ahead by 11.
It was the third-straight game in which the veteran guard recorded at least 23 points – Gayle had 23 in consecutive losses to Reading and Hemel last weekend.
Connor Murtagh and Mike Bernard combined for 25 points, and Kyle Carey added nine and nine rebounds.
Nick More II, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Bradford (11-21, 6-16 NBL1), only had two second quarter points after scoring 10 in the first. And he was limited to just 10 after the break on 3-for-8 shooting.
The Spinners (21-10, 12-8) trailed 24-15 with 2:01 but ended the opening quarter on a 7-0 run.
Deadlocked at 51-all, Bernard’s jumper early in the second half broke open a narrow four-point lead. Lancashire then closed the second five minutes outscoring Bradford 11-5.
The Dragons drew within 80-74 following an 8-0 run over 50 seconds, highlighted by a Ricky Festke 3-point play. Bradford cut the deficit to five after a pair of free throws but it would miss five of its last six attempts.
Festke scored 19 points and Dwayne Camille had 11 as three starters finished in double-figures. Rihards Sulcs and Adria Vinas combined for 19 off the bench.
Bradford shot just 39 percent after shooting 50 in the first half.
NOTES
Lancashire: Guard Cian Hickey, who entered Saturday averaging just 3.2 points in 19 league games, finished with seven. … The Spinners won the battle of the paint 42-32 after being outscored 24-22 in the first half. … Lancashire only committed six turnovers whilst forcing 11 against Bradford. … Kyle Carey had a team-high in rebounds (9) as four Spinners finished with five or more. The Spinners were 8 for 25 from behind the arc.
For a second-straight game, Bradford and Lancashire were tied at halftime. The two went into the half tied at 61 on Dec. 5. The Dragons held a 49-47 lead on Oct. 10 in the National Trophy. The teams have combined for 563 points in three meetings this season (a total of 751 in four all-time meetings). The Spinners lead the all-time series 3-1.
Allen Gunn
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