Basketball: Achara plays part in GB win

Lone Scot Kieran Achara had his best game of the Eurobasket qualifying campaign to help Great Britain take their unbeaten run to four games with an exciting 90-76 win over Ukraine at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Saturday night.

The 27-year-old former Falkirk Fury centre, now a professional in Italy, enjoyed nearly ten minutes court time and played some superb defence on the big Ukraine inside men, and, although he did not score, he had a blocked shot and a steal.

It was Chicago Bulls NBA star Luol Deng however who broke open the game in the closing minutes with a sensational run to take his personal tally to 28 after GB had trailed by 12 in the first half. But when he came to light he ignited the crowd and put the issue beyond all doubt.

Pops Mensah Bonsu added 15, Nate Reinking 14 and Dan Clark 13 for a GB side who are back at the NIA tomorrow to face Hungary, whom they have already beaten away.

Edinburgh Kool Kat Rose Anderon scored seven points for GB women in their narrow 67-76 defeat by the Slovak Republic.