Newcastle Eagles seal eighth SLB Trophy victory

The win secured the first piece of silverware for GB head coach Marc Steutel since he returned to Newcastle Eagles

Newcastle Eagles clinched their eighth Super League Basketball Trophy title with a 97-78 victory against Bristol Flyers in the final at Birmingham's Utilita Arena.

The Eagles - Britain's most successful men's franchise - celebrated the 28th piece of silverware in the club's history and their first major final win since 2021.

The Eagles' victory also marks the first success since Marc Steutel - also Great Britain's men's head coach - returned to take charge of the team in 2022.

Seneca Knight was Newcastle's top with 22 points while Mike Okauru was awarded the match's MVP title for 19 points, three rebounds and six assists.

Bristol, who are marking the 20th anniversary of the formation of the club this year, remain without a major final win in their history, having also been defeated in the BBL Cup in 2020.

Bristol narrowly had the upper hand 98-94 when the two sides met in the league only two weeks earlier.

However, Newcastle enjoyed a dominant first quarter to take 31-19 lead, with Okauru scoring 17 of his 19 points, and remained in front the rest of the match, watched by more than 8,500 fans.

They stretched that advantage to 52-31 by half-time and although the Flyers outscored them in the final quarter by four points, their comeback attempt came too late.

"From top to bottom, the fans, the players, the city, the organisation, amazing, this means everything for our organisation. I'm elated," Steutel told DAZN Sports.

Flyers guard Evan Walshe told BBC Radio Bristol: "We really wanted to do what was right for the city and bring a championship back, and we fell short, which really hurts.

"We have to find a way to pick ourselves up, we have a long season ahead and still have chances of more silverware."