Basketball: Lindstrom finally celebrates success

David Lindstrom earned his first win as London Towers' new coach, at the third attempt, with an 84-81 BBL Championship win over Newcastle Eagles at Crystal Palace last night, edging ahead on two free throws from Robert Youngblood 25 seconds from time. Youngblood then stole the ball from Malcolm Leak to set up John White for the final basket to lead Towers' scorers with 18 points.

The American Lindstrom replaced Lino Frattin, who was sacked after Towers lost their first six games in the Euroleague, but on Thursday presided over their seventh defeat, by 81-58 against the Lithuanians of Zalghiris Kaunus.

On Saturday Towers lost 101-96 at Thames Valley Tigers, in the Championship. Tigers gained control with a 17-2 run midway through the second quarter for a 39-25 lead. Twice Towers came back to a single point but saw their path to victory barred by their former player Eric Burks, who scored five of the last seven points out of a game-high 31.

Birmingham Bullets' continental experience has been the opposite of Towers', but they suffered their first defeat in five in the North European League with a 97-88 home loss against Magic Great Danes on Saturday.

The Danish club's 6ft 8in, 19-year-old Kristian Drejer, watched by a scout from the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, calmly amassed 20 first half points with immaculate shot selection, while Bullets' Rashod Johnson, John O'Connell and Brant Bailey peppered the backboard and rims. The Danes also did the simple things well, scoring 19 out of 21 free throws, while the Bullets squandered 12 points from the foul line ­ enough to have won the game.

Bullets' then slipped to an 88-68 Championship defeat against Leicester Riders, who went to the top of the northern conference for the first time since the competition was split into two regions.