NEWCASTLE Eagles started their double-away trip south with a win in the new Milton Keynes Basketball Arena, but it was not as comfortable as expected or what the league table had seem to indicate.

Once again it was the now affectionately-named Three Amigos who led the way. It seems that at the moment Charles Smith, Trey Moore and Joe Chapman are in such unstoppable form that the rest of the league needs to watch out.

Chapman led all scorers with 34 points and his buddies Moore and Smith were not far behind him netting 27 and 25 respectively.

Moore also added in 11 rebounds for an excellent double-double and with eight assists he almost completed a memorable triple-double.

Not that it’s about individuals, and the rest of the Eagles roster played their part doing the dirty work to allow their shooters their opportunities.

The first quarter was fairly even although the Eagles made the quicker start and led early after Chapman drained an early triple on his way to an excellent first ten minutes Newcastle looked up and ready.

But the Lions, making a mockery of their lowly BBL position, battled all the way and levelled the game.

However, it was advantage Eagles after the first period by the slender margin of 22-20.

In the second, Eagles coach Fab Flournoy demanded more defence from his players and with Smith in particular coming alive, his side began to assert their authority on the game.

The three big scorers kept the pressure on the Lions throughout and with Kadiri Richard and Darius Defoe playing tight inside the paint, the game became an outside shootout.