Worcester Wolves 72-62 Bristol Academy Flyers

Worcester Wolves displayed strength in depth to overcome Bristol Academy Flyers 72-62 in an absorbing encounter at the University of Worcester Arena on Saturday.

Wolves built a commanding 25-9 lead by early in the second quarter but, in the face of foul trouble and injury niggles, were dragged back to a 51-51 tie entering the final ten minutes of action.

Stalwarts Matei Balteanu and Lucas McGregor led the way to victory with 17 and 16 points respectively while Evan Longman, revelling in his first significant minutes of the season, punched in a 12 points and six rebounds breakout performance.

Balteanu twice backed down Bristol’s Jack Craggs to open the scoring. When Craggs retired to the bench the Romanian forward simply perpetuated the torment against his replacement Spence Wewe.

Flyers were held scoreless over a six-minute period while Worcester poured in seventeen points to take second quarter control.

Worryingly, over the same spell starter Aryan Davoodi had to sit down after three quick fouls and McGregor fell to the floor awkwardly to join a line of team-mates out of the action.

However, Longman and Jacob Solvason sprang into the line-up to keep Wolves’ noses 40-34 in front by half-time.

Bristol’s dangerous guard Louie Tucker was on target from three-point range on four of five attempts to draw the sides level.

McGregor now recovered to join the fray and made up for lost time with a series of powerful drives to the hoop. Solvason harassed attackers with a trio of steals and Longman produced a double of scoops as Worcester took a hard-fought victory.

“I’m happy that everyone got on the floor, I’m happy that everyone contributed and I’m really happy that we got the win,” declared satisfied Wolves coach Dean Blake.

“Evan Longman had a great performance and is an example of our depth. A player comes in who may not have had many minutes but they slot straight in. That’s the mark of a good team.”

Wolves will not turn out again at the University of Worcester Arena until December. Before then they tackle a contrasting duo of opponents on the road, firstly visiting bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Trent Hoods next Saturday 12 November (1pm), with a trip to league-leading City of Birmingham Rockets coming the week after.