Eagles are bruised and battered but victorious

By JEFF KING

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NEWCASTLE Eagles survived a huge final-quarter onslaught from Manchester Basketball to extend their season for another week and move through to the semi-finals of the end-of-season play-offs.

They will face Champions London Lions this weekend in a two-leg semi-final.

The first leg will be away in London on Friday night at The Copperbox, with the second leg, and what should be a sell-out, at the Vertu Motors Arena lined up for Sunday.

And a battered, bruised but victorious Eagles squad are going to need every second of respite and recharge they can get.

Newcastle came into Manchester defending a narrow seven-point lead, but it was never about holding on as they looked to go after a win on the road to move on.

An intense opening 20 minutes saw Manchester go into the locker rooms at the half up by three at 50-47 - and the game was in the balance.