FAB Flournoy has urged his Newcastle Eagles to be the last men standing in the closest ever BBL title race – as he predicts the eventual champions will limp not sprint over the line.

The Eagles are right back in the running for their fourth successive championship after Mersey Tigers, who inflicted a damaging defeat on Flournoy’s men on Tuesday, suffered a surprise loss of their own to the Leicester Riders on Wednesday night.

With both the Tigers and the Eagles facing a punishing schedule between now and the end of the season, Flournoy is predicting plenty more twists and turns before the title’s destination is decided.

Indeed Sheffield Sharks, currently third but with three games against the Tigers still remaining, may yet sneak up on the blind side and overtake both if the league’s tendency to throw up shock results continues.

Flournoy will be hoping there won’t be any at Sport Central tonight though, with the Eagles welcoming an MK Lions side that have struggled to fulfil their potential this term (tip-off 7.30pm).

“It has been a crazy week but they will all be crazy between now and the end of the season because that is the schedule we’ve all got,” he said.

“The rearranging of the cup competition, venue issues, the economic crisis – it has all combined to make it a nightmare run of games. That makes it very, very tight for us all – we are all in the same boat.