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Wednesday, February 18, 2026
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Teesside Crowned BUCS Champions with Dominant Win
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AJ Harris and his Teesside University teammates have been officially confirmed as Northern Tier 4B champions following a commanding 74–53 victory away at Leeds Trinity.
The result marks a historic milestone for the program, which has secured the league title with two games still remaining in the season.
Despite traveling without key starters Harris and Toby Scully, the Teesside squad quickly asserted their dominance on the court. The depth of the roster was on full display as Benas Maldutis took charge, leading all scorers with an impressive 32-point performance. He was ably supported by Dave Cosgrove and Temi Olusesi, who contributed 17 and 12 points respectively to ensure the win was never in doubt.
The victory cements an extraordinary, undefeated campaign in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) league. Earlier this month, the team signaled their intent with a massive 86–51 win over Leeds Trinity at home, a match where Harris’s playmaking was central to the blowout.
The university program's success is a testament to its professionalized environment and partnership with the Teesside Lions, which allows players like Harris to balance elite competition with their academic pursuits. With the championship now secured, Teesside can look ahead to the promotion playoffs and the possibility of ending the season with a perfect record.
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Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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Red Storm surge past Lafayette to extend winning streak
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Terence Dill’s Houston Red Storm extended their winning streak to four games after overcoming an early double-digit deficit to defeat the Lafayette Ballers 125-121 in a high-octane road rematch.
The Red Storm showcased their resilience after falling behind 37-24 early in the contest. Houston ignited a blistering 16-point run to seize the lead and never looked back, heading into the locker room with a 62-57 halftime advantage.
The victory was fueled by a dominant "one-two punch" from the Red Storm’s leading figures. Dylan Spriggins led all scorers with 34 points, proving once again why he remains the premier scoring threat in the ABA. Meanwhile, Cameron Moore continued his historic run of form, recording another massive triple-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and a game-high 16 assists.
While the marquee names shone bright, it was Lonzo Rand who provided the game’s turning point. In a masterful third quarter where Houston outscored Lafayette 42-31, Rand exploded for 15 points, finishing the night with 30. His ability to draw fouls and convert at the line proved vital in the closing minutes.
Houston’s "Mr. Clean" candidate, Gabriel Drayton, anchored the interior with a phenomenal 21-rebound performance to go along with 14 points. The Red Storm's collective effort resulted in 60 total rebounds, allowing them to withstand a barrage of 17 three-pointers from the Ballers.
Defensively, Eric Williams set the tone with three steals, leading a ball-pressure unit that forced 11 total turnovers to secure the win. The Red Storm also displayed elite efficiency from deep, shooting 47% as a team, led by multiple triples from Spriggins, Gerry Glover—who contributed 18 points—and Rand.
"Winning on the road in this league is never easy, especially against a young team that shoots the ball as well as Lafayette did tonight," said Coach Terence Dill. "Trailing by 13 early on could have rattled a lesser team, but our veteran leadership took over. Lonzo’s third quarter was spectacular, and Gabriel Drayton owning the boards was the difference-maker".
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Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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Emotional Farewell as Scott Honored at IMG Academy
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The atmosphere at the IMG Academy was thick with emotion and pride as the curtain began to fall on a defining chapter for one of the most prestigious basketball programmes in the United States. In a night dedicated to celebrating the journey of the graduating class, Bermudian standout Ralph Scott was one of six senior players formally honored during the annual Senior Night festivities.
For Scott, the evening represented a significant milestone in a burgeoning career that has seen him rise from a promising local talent to one of the most coveted prospects in North American high school basketball. Standing as a unanimous four-star recruit and a top-40 player nationally, the 6-foot-8 wing has spent his tenure at the Florida-based academy refining the versatile skill set that recently earned him a high-profile commitment to the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
The ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the dedication required to excel within the IMG system, where academic rigour meets professional-grade athletic development. As Scott walked across the hardwood alongside five of his teammates, the crowd was reminded of the collective achievements of a group that has consistently competed at the highest echelons of the national circuit.
The Bermudian international, who was previously named MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Americas camp, has become a symbol of the island's growing footprint in the elite basketball world. His success at IMG Academy has paved the way for future generations of Bermudian athletes, proving that with the right infrastructure and work ethic, the path to the SEC and beyond is well within reach.
As the regular season draws to a close, the focus for Scott and his fellow honorees shifts toward the post-season and the national championships. While the night was a celebration of past accomplishments, the intensity of the competition ahead remains the primary objective for a group determined to leave IMG Academy with one final piece of silverware.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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Teesside University: The Rising Force in UK Student Basketball
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Teesside University is rapidly cementing its status as a premier destination for elite student-athletes, with a basketball programme that seamlessly marries academic excellence with high-octane sporting opportunities.
Now in its seventh year of a fruitful partnership with the Teesside Lions, the programme remains unbeaten this season, offering a formidable platform for players aiming to climb the ranks while securing a world-class degree.
The collaboration with the Lions—who currently compete in National League Division One—provides a unique "dual-pathway" for participants. Student-athletes don’t just represent the university; they are integrated into a system that competes across both the National League and the Durham Regional League.
This high-frequency schedule is a key draw for the programme. "I am getting access to basketball almost every day of the week, and playing nearly sixty games a season," says standout recruit AJ Harris.
At the heart of Teesside’s unbeaten run is Harris, a dynamic playmaker who has lived up to his billing as the programme's "standout recruit." On the court, his impact is undeniable; in a recent 112-56 demolition of East Cleveland, Harris led the scoring with 22 points, helping the side maintain their charge for the league title and a County Cup semi-final berth.
Off the court, Harris is pursuing a degree in Animation—a field in which Teesside is nationally recognised as a leader.
“Animation is a passion of mine, and I was instantly attracted to Teesside because of the basketball opportunity and the reputation for animation,” Harris explained. “The facilities are incredible. I have access to professional-level equipment and studios.”
The Teesside model represents a growing trend in UK higher education, where sports programmes are no longer just extracurricular activities but professional-grade developmental hubs. For players like Harris, the combination of high-level coaching and academic rigour is a "dream scenario."
As the Lions hunt for silverware in the second half of the season, the university’s reputation as a creative and athletic powerhouse continues to grow, providing a blueprint for how to balance the books with the box scores.
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Monday, February 09, 2026
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Georgia Surge Topples Tigers in Baton Rouge
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The Georgia Bulldogs showcased why they are one of the most explosive offensive units in collegiate basketball, overcoming a sluggish start to secure a commanding 83-71 victory over LSU.
In front of a vocal crowd at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the Bulldogs relied on a devastating scoring run to dismantle the Tigers and maintain their pursuit of a top-tier seeding in the SEC.
LSU Associate Head Coach David Patrick watched from the sidelines as his side initially threatened to blow the game wide open. Harnessing the same energy that saw them defeat South Carolina just a week ago, the Tigers exploded out of the blocks to establish a 31-16 lead within the first ten minutes.
Max Mackinnon was the catalyst for the early onslaught. The Tigers' standout delivered a professional performance, tallying 26 points, four assists, and five rebounds. Mackinnon was clinical from the charity stripe, finishing 10-of-10 on free throws to mark his 14th consecutive game in double figures.
However, Georgia—a team averaging over 92 points per game—refused to be intimidated by the early deficit. Known for their ability to score in transition and capitalize on turnovers, the Bulldogs methodically clawed their way back into the contest.
A ruthless 27-6 run over the final ten minutes of the first half completely shifted the momentum, allowing Georgia to head into the locker room with a 42-37 lead.
The Tigers' offensive fluency vanished in the second period as Georgia’s defensive intensity ramped up. LSU struggled to find clean looks, being held to just nine field goals in the final 20 minutes.
LSU’s perimeter shooting proved particularly problematic, failing to land a single three-pointer from seven attempts in the second half. Despite a 14-point contribution from Marquel Sutton, the Tigers simply couldn't keep pace with a Georgia side that remained relentless until the final buzzer.
For Patrick and the LSU coaching staff, the defeat serves as a sobering reminder of the consistency required to compete in the upper echelons of the SEC.
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