Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles host Bristol Flyers in Friday night British Basketball League action, with both sides looking to reclaim form of a different kind.
Once the hottest team in the League, the Eagles’ seven-game winning streak was grounded by Surrey Scorchers last Friday, and they will be heading into their clash with the Flyers looking to soar once more.
For Bristol, they edged B. Braun Sheffield Sharks in one of the games of the season, coming back from a 65-55 deficit with more than a minute left to force overtime and claim a precious win.
That snapped a six-game slide for Andreas Kapoulas’ men, and they will want that form to continue in the North-East.
Last time out
The two teams have met twice this season, both in Bristol, with both recording a win each.
After beating the Sharks on opening night, Newcastle travelled to the South-West and deservedly came away with an 81-74 win, with Jordan Johnson pacing the visitors with 26 points.
The Flyers would gain revenge precisely a month later with a comfortable 97-83 win, which came in the middle of their six-game unbeaten run. Tevin Olison fronted the attack with 27 points on that day.
This will be the first meeting of the season at Newcastle’s Vertu Motors Arena.
Johnson vs. Olison
Both Johnson and Olison have been piling up the points this season for their respective teams, and both will be central figures on Friday night.
The Eagles guard Johnson hasn’t missed a beat since returning to the British Basketball League, as he is currently second in scoring at 18.4 points a game, shooting 34.1% from range at an average of 12 shots a game.
Aside from scoring, the American has also been a tremendous facilitator, averaging a touch under six assists a game, too.
With Tajh Green and the evergreen Rickey McGill at his side, the Eagles have a formidable offensive juggernaut at their disposal.
Not far behind, though, is Bristol’s high-flyer in Olison. Now in his second season with the club and the first player to put pen to paper for this campaign, he has repaid Kapoulas’s trust in him by lighting up the scoring charts.
Olison averages 15.8 points a game at 44.5% from the field. And defensively, he has been a menace at 1.4 steals a contest to add.
He is supported by big man Brad Greene, Kedrian Johnson and Trejon Jacob.
With the new season here, you can still get your British Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube channel to relive all of the best moments from the current season.
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