Coventry Crusaders won back their pride on Sunday with a thrilling game at league leaders Plymouth Raiders.

The BUPA Crusaders played some of their best basketball this year, led by American star Marvin Harrison, who got 37 points.

Harrison scored his highest point total of the season against the league and held Plymouth top scorer Terrance Durham to 21 points.

After missing last week’s game, Dip Donaldson wasted no time on court, getting the players to perform to a higher level.

The Crusaders were in with a chance of pulling off the upset of the season.

The Plymouth team just managed to keep their home advantage, although they were never allowed to sit back and rest on the small lead they held during the game.

The Crusaders kept the pressure on the Raiders through Ed Girbal, Manny Sharland, and Colin Rhooms.

Donaldson said:

“It was not a demoralising defeat, but definitely a building block for the team.”

Crusaders scorers: Sharland 4, Rhooms 5, Girbal 9, Donaldson 9, Scott 10, Pope 15, Harrison 37.