Basketball: Leicester riding high

Massive support from the crowd counted for little out on the floor at the Nynex Arena on Saturday night. Manchester Giants sold cut-price tickets to draw the season's largest attendance of 9,307, but Leicester City Riders silenced them with a 9-0 opening run and stayed in control to win 93-72 in the Budweiser League.

The Giants, who lost 83-80 in London at the Leopards on Thursday, roused the home supporters with a 12-0 spurt to square the scores at 34-34. But Gene Waldron's three-pointer started a 24-3 run either side of half-time for Leicester to go 58-39 clear to take their fourth league win out of the last five.

Thames Valley Tigers, beaten 105-104 at Worthing Bears in overtime on Friday, were led to victory at Hemel Royals on Saturday night by the England international Peter Scantlebury and American Casey Arena, who hit 21 points each in the 118-85 win over the league's bottom club.

Scott Paterson, signed by Newcastle before Friday's transfer deadline, was denied a debut by injury as new team-mate Chris Fite scored a three- pointer 17 seconds from time to lead 91-87 at home to the Leopards.

Robert Youngblood scored three seconds from time but Leopards lost 91- 89, for their third defeat out of four since winning the National Cup two weeks ago.