Basketball: Newcastle hopes fall with injury

Newcastle Eagles' hopes of producing a National Cup quarter-finals upset at Brighton Bears ended three-and-a-half minutes from the end of the first half when Niki Arinze, the BBL's leading scorer and second highest rebounder, dislocated a shoulder.

The Bears, trailing at the time, went on to win 91-73 led by 23 points from Randy Duck and 21 from Sterling Davis. London Towers, Thames Valley Tigers and holders Chester Jets will join Brighton in today's draw for the semi-finals.

Chester survived a ferocious Birmingham Bullets fightback to beat them in last season's Final, and hung on again on Saturday for a 98-94 victory at the Aston Events Centre. Chester's five Americans and New Zealand international Pero Cameron built a 79-66 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, but Birmingham's only two Americans dragged the Bullets back into the game.

Essex Leopards lost 100-89 to London Towers in overtime and Tigers led from the tip-off to defeat NBL Conference side Teesside Mohawks 111-84.