Basketball: Dux keeps Guildford just ahead of pursuing Eagles and Sharks

Guildford Heat hold the edge in the BBL Championship title race after Saturday night's 95-86 win over Newcastle Eagles, but cannot shake off their pursuers after both the Eagles and Sheffield Sharks won last night.

Eagles, the defending champions, recovered to defeat Milton Keynes Lions 104-93 while the Sharks needed two Jeff Bonds free throws 40 seconds from time to prevail 77-76 in Glasgow against Scottish Rocks.

The Heat and Sharks each have 18 wins but Sheffield have played one more game, while Newcastle have 17 wins from two games more than the Heat.

Brian Dux, a strong contender for the BBL player of the season, led Guildford with 23 points in Saturday night's win over Newcastle. But despite playing just 24 hours later, after the long haul from Surrey back to Tyneside, the Eagles began impressively against the Lions last night, blitzing the visitors 33-16 in the first quarter and staying in control from then on.

The Sharks also looked to be cruising last night as they led 75-66 in Glasgow with four minutes to play, only for the Rocks to hit a 10-0 run to lead 76-75. After Bonds retook the lead with his free throws, two Rocks shots were blocked as they tried to snatch the win.

Plymouth Raiders leap-frogged the Lions and Rocks into fourth place as 20 points from Gaylon Moore earned an 82-66 win over London United, who took the long journey to Devon 24 hours after a 106-99 win in overtime against the Chester Jets in Hackney.