Newcastle Eagles allowed only three turnovers in the first half and defeated Bakken Bears, 93-73, to book a ticket to the 2025 ENBL Final Four on Tuesday, March 18, at the Vertu Motors arena in northern England.
Players of the game
Tyneside is rocking this March.
Newcastle United Football Club won the first domestic title in 70 years on Sunday.
Newcastle Eagles advanced to the ENBL Final Four two days later.
De`Sean Allen-Eikens led his team with 19 points on 8/15 shooting from the field.
California State University at Northridge graduate forward scored 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Allen-Eikens hit a couple of threes to extend the Eagles lead.
He added seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
Trey Pulliam had 16 points coming from the bench.
San Diego State University guard went 8/13 from the field and dished out four assists too.
Joshua Ward-Hibbert checked out with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Skyler Bowlin led Bakken Bears with 21 points.
The 2024 ENBL champion went 5/9 from the three point line.
Sylvester Berg helped with 13 points and six rebounds.
Key stats
Jacob Polakovich, hero of the first game, didn`t dressed for Bakken Bears on Tuesday.
Newcastle Eagles took care of the ball and allowed only three turnovers in the first half.
Tyneside boys secured a 10 points lead – and seven points on aggregate – in the first 10 minutes of play, 25-15.
They remained in a commanding seat throughout the game and used smart rotations.
Newcastle reserves scored 16 points in the third quarter to give some respite for starters.
The Eagles went 4/5 from the three point line in the final quarter to extend their lead even further.
Newcastle relied on eight man rotation but it was too much for short handed Bakken Bears.
Six Eagles – De`Sean Allen-Eikens, Trey Pulliam, Joshua Ward-Hibbert, Mike Okauru, Seneca Knight and Christian James – scored in double figures.
Game notes
Newcastle Eagles improved to 8-2, while Bakken Bears dropped to 5-5.
Marc Steutel and his men advanced to the Final Four in their second attempt.
Newcastle is the first team from United Kingdom to play in the ENBL Final Four.
Darius Defoe – Mr. 28 – will have a chance to add his 29th trophy with the Eagles.
Bakken Bears won the 2024 ENBL title in emotional final in front of their home fans.
Anders Sommer and his men won glory and returned to the 2025 playoffs.
Newcastle Eagles will face the winners of the series between Dziki Warszawa and Bamberg Baskets.
ENBL playoffs 2025 (local time only)
(A1) Newcastle Eagles – Bakken Bears (B4)
Game one: Tuesday, March 11, Bakken Bears win 87-84
Game two: Tuesday, March 18, Newcastle win 93-73
Newcastle won the series, 177-160
(A2) CSO Voluntari – Legia Warszawa (B3)
Game one: Wednesday, March 5, CSO Voluntari win 81-95
Game two: Tuesday, March 18, CSO Voluntari win 102-87
Voluntari won the series, 197-168
(A3) Dziki Warszawa – Bamberg Baskets (B2)
Game one: Wednesday, March 5, Dziki win 95-74
Game two: Wednesday, March 19, Bamberg 20:00
(A4) Valmiera Glass ViA – Inter Bratislava (B1)
Game one: Saturday, March 1, Inter win 83-105
Game two: Tuesday, March 18, Inter win 85-79
Inter won the series, 190-162
The 2025 Final Four location will be announced immediately after the playoffs.
Final Four 2025
Tuesday, April 8
Semifinal one: Newcastle Eagles – Winner A3/B2
Semifinal two: Inter Bratislava – CSO Voluntari
Wednesday, April 9
Medal games
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