London, Wednesday 4 March — The London Lions fell 72–71 to Manchester on Sunday night, undone by a last-second score in a contest that continues to fuel one of the league’s fastest-growing rivalries.

The game remained tight throughout, with neither side able to create sustained separation. Although the Lions carved out a brief cushion during a strong third-quarter stretch, they were unable to maintain that momentum heading into the fourth as Manchester battled back to keep the contest within reach.

“We’ve got to do a better job as a team of controlling the game when we have the lead like coach said,” said Deane Williams.

The first half was a tightly contested, back-and-forth affair, with momentum swinging between the teams. Ethan Price got the Lions off to a hot start, knocking down multiple shots off pick-and-pop plays. He finished the game as London’s leading scorer with 14 points.

Every time the Lions looked to gain some momentum, Max Jones kept Manchester in the game with a series of tough, timely buckets. At the half, the Lions trailed narrowly, 37–38.

Price opened the second half with a strong finish inside, while Williams attacked downhill for consecutive scores, including a poster dunk that electrified the Copper Box crowd. A Williams three-pointer pushed the Lions ahead 50–43 midway through the third, and by the end of the quarter London held a commanding 58–50 advantage.

The lead stretched to 14 early in the fourth after free throws and a Mo Soluade corner three, but Manchester refused to fade.

Manchester repeatedly answered every Lions run.

A step-back three from Patrick Smith Jr. cut the margin to two, and Jones later converted an and-one opportunity to tie the contest at 66 with just over two minutes remaining.

Soluade responded with a clutch three off crisp ball movement to restore a 69–66 lead with 1:38 to play.

But the closing sequence swung Manchester’s way.

After Jones knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to one, Manchester forced a defensive stop. A scramble for a loose ball ended in the hands of Adetukasi, who finished inside with 12.3 seconds remaining to give Manchester a 72–71 lead.

London called timeout with one final opportunity.

Shavar Reynolds attacked the rim out of the break, but Max Jones came up with a game-winning block from behind, securing the rebound as time expired sealing the victory for Manchester.

Tensions flared briefly between the sides postgame, underlining the growing intensity between the two clubs with a Cup Final on the table in just a couple of weeks.

Head Coach Tautvydas Sabonis reflected on the missed opportunity.

“It was a game that I think we controlled in the third quarter then the beginning of the fourth we kind of let it go. Questionable calls, decision making from my guys down the stretch, and we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted. But it gives us some fire for when we meet them next.”

London still remain top of the SLB Championship standings at 15–4, maintaining a strong position as they continue their pursuit of a rare domestic quadruple.

The Lions will use the week to reset before welcoming the Surrey 89ers to the Copper Box Arena next Wednesday, looking to respond after falling short in their last matchup against Surrey.