Patriots off the bottom with after bringing down Giants

IT was the battle of the BBL's bottom two on Friday night as the Plymouth City Patriots took on the Manchester Giants, the team just above them in the table, with a chance to leapfrog them with a win at the Pavilions.

- PABLO CHEEKS

PLYMOUTH CITY PATRIOTS.....86

MANCHESTER GIANTS................77

Both teams have been desperate to avoid the dreaded last place this season, and both teams have suffered numerous setbacks and very few high points. Neither team has managed any sort of winning streak this season either and, on paper at least, it seemed as though the game would be a war of attrition.

However, a very different game broke out on Friday night, in front of a sold out crowd, as the home fans were treated to a fast-paced Patriots that scored at will in the opening exchanges.

The home team came flying out of the gates and opened up a doubledigit lead, a lead they would hold comfortably until the half-time interval.

In the third quarter, the Giants put together a run that closed the gap to 14 points, with the Patriots managing to trade with the visitors, keeping some distance as the game headed into the fourth quarter.