Basketball: Foes fall in Cup as Kings await tip-off

Edinburgh Kings have still to play their first game in the controversial new open draw basketball Scottish Cup, or indeed find out their opponents, yet already two of their main rivals from previous years are out.

First the holders, and the only team to beat Kings last season, Falkirk Fury crashed out, beaten by Glasgow University 82-76 in a major first round upset at the Mariner Sports Centre in Falkirk.

The students, new to the National League this season, took control from the start and built up a 41-27 lead by half-time. When Fury closed to within two points with a minute left, it seemed the visitors had blown their chances. But they rallied to close out the game, hitting 15 three-pointers in all.

Lithuanian Aistis Keliauskas led the students with 27 points, ex-Worcester BBL star Steve Archer adding 21, while American guard Dave Foster had 21 for Fury, who also lost their hold of the Scottish Junior Men's cup at the first hurdle, beaten 63-31 by Kings at Portobello, where the Kings cadets also came through a tough tie, beating Tayside Musketeers 70-58.

Another proud Cup team, Troon Tornadoes, are also out of the senior cup, tamely beaten 78-53 at home by St Mirren at the Citadel Centre, Ayr, where they were a shadow of the side who have given Kings such problems in the past.

In another all National League clash, Stirling Knights won a very bad-tempered affair at the Peak Centre, beating East Lothian Peregrines 69-63.

Edinburgh Kool Kats had a good weekend, the seniors travelling to Ellon to beat Grampian Flyers 98-34 with the cadettes also winning on the road, beating Tayside Musketeers 48-44 at Arbroath.