Leicester Warriors 87-79 Worcester Wolves

Sunday 30th November 2025

By Colin Taylor

Worcester Wolves missed the chance to take top-spot in National Basketball League Division One after falling to an 87-79 error-strewn defeat at Leicester Warriors on Sunday.

Wolves never fully recovered from allowing their hosts to race out to a 10-0 start and, despite a last-quarter comeback, continued to litter the court with turnovers to leave scant chance of a victory.

“The damage was done early,” confirmed coach Dean Blake. “We struggled to get any rhythm.

“We had chances to get back into the game but our morale was already down, There were too many turnovers. It was frustrating.”

It took until the third minute of the match for Worcester’s Wilfrid Santhe to answer Leicester’s high-speed opening.

Thereafter in the first quarter it was left to forward Earl Burgess to plough a lone furrow at the offensive end for the visitors until a late steal and layup from Harry Godwin held the arrears to 29-18.

Warriors’ flashy guard Malik Legania slammed the ball through the hoop and excitedly hung on the rim to celebrate a 35-22 lead by midway through the second period.

A timeout set up a conversion for Burgess on Wolves’ last possession of the half to draw back the deficit to 42-38.

Leicester’s advantage remained steady at 61-57 entering the final quarter but their lead was quickly extinguished when Emmanuel Yeboah had his arm swiped as he sank a three-point shot.

Yeboah’s bonus free throw drew the sides level and his follow-up drive gave Wolves their first turn in the box seat.

A Burgess block precipitated Santhe switching hands to score and bring up a sudden 65-61 lead.

With five minutes remaining matters were tied at 74-74 and, at a couple of minutes left, Burgess twirled around defenders to restrict Warriors to a slender 78-77 edge.

But a final burst of errant shooting and a final spell of careless ball-handling gifted the hosts the opportunity to once again pull away.

Burgess dominated the scoring with 26 points. Santhe with 12 points and Georgios Stergiopoulos with ten were Worcester’s only other double-digit scorers.

Wolves return to the University of Worcester Arena next Saturday 06 December to host fourth-placed St Helens Saints in a 7.30pm tip-off.

“Taking on St Helens will be a tough ask but if we want to bounce back then there’s no better time to do it than the next game,” added Blake.

Purchase your tickets for this Super Saturday of live Basketball here or from the University of Worcester Arena.