Mansfield Giants lose concentration in cup defeat at London United

The game started late due to one of the London players pulling the ring down in the warm up, but when it eventually tipped off, the Giants got off to a great start, taking an early lead.

The Londoners cut down that lead as the Giants made some bad passes allowing the home team to get back in the game, but the visitors took the first quarter 20-14.

The Giants’ momentum continued as they built up a comfortable 15-point lead.

Then an unsportsmanlike foul, followed by a technical foul allowed United back into the game as it ended 41-35 at the half in the Giants’ favour.

London United stepped up in the third period, and immediately got themselves back into the game.

The teams traded baskets, until some sharpshooting from the home side saw them start to pull away from the Giants.

The Giants had another solid quarter and applied full court pressure, which saw them close the gap, but they ran out of time.

Giants’ top scorers: D. Richards 24, S. Summersgill 16, C. Gamble 13.

Assistant coach Arron White said; “It was a very good performance considering the players we had missing.

“We showed consistent scoring at 20 points a quarter but a lapse in the third quarter on defence let them back. This is a valuable lesson for our new look team.”

The Giants travel away this Saturday to take on Ipswich, also in the Patrons Cup.