Durham Wildcats 84 Manchester Giants 92

MANCHESTER Giants held their nerve in the north east to secure their first away win of the BBL season.

The Giants beat Durham Wildcats on Sunday with Aussie forward Darren Best enjoying his best night for the club.

After a flying start to the game, during which the Giants ran out into a 25-14 first-quarter lead, the Wildcats battled back.

They tied the game at 40 at half-time and put the Giants under pressure in the third.

Jeff Jones’ men went into the final period with a narrow advantage at 63-61 but they stretched their lead despite the home team making a couple of runs at them.

Best had a stand-out game with a game-high 22 points, while guards Callum Jones and Stefan Gill gave solid performances with 17 each.

Forward Ben Eaves had seven with the same number of rebounds.

Coach Jeff Jones said: “We battled hard for the win and deserved it."

The Giants were without injured centre Mike Bernard.

And though they coped without his considerable presence - as they did against Surrey the previous weekend - Jones will be glad to have the veteran back after treatment for his hip injury.

"We will have Mike back in a a week or two and can progress from here.”

The Giants sit fourth in the BBL table with four wins and three losses.

Their next game is at the Powerleague Trafford Sportsdome base against Plymouth Raiders on Saturday, November 8.

Giants: Best 22; Bankevics 20; Gill 17, 4 assists; Jones 17, 4 assists; Eaves 7, 7 rebounds; Gayle 5; Watts 3; Murtagh 1