BRADFORD Dragons experienced mixed emotions during their double-header weekend.

They beat third-placed Loughborough Student Riders 95-76 at home but lost 83-79 the following day to struggling Essex Leopards having made the long journey to Brentwood Centre.

This is Loughborough's first season in the National Basketball League's top flight but they arrived at the Dragons' Den two points and two places above Bradford.

The hosts, having lost their previous three games – two of which were against leaders Team Northumbria – were in no doubt that this was going to be another stern test of their play-off credentials.

The Dragons quickly opened up a 9-4 lead before the Riders levelled at 9-9 and went on to build a 22-13 advantage.

But after a switchback first period, Bradford were 29-24 up and Loughborough called for a time-out three-and-a-half minutes into the second period when they were trailing 40-26.

Things got better for the students before half-time, at which they were trailing 50-43, and it was 73-59 by the end of a third period.

This had been notable for Alex Roberts' defence-splitting pass for a Reiss Pinnock alley-oop for Riders and Bradford duo Rihards Sulcs going the length of the court via Marcus Gooding for a reverse lay-up after wrestling possession from Max Richardson.

Frustration got the better of Richardson in the final quarter as he tripped Sulcs, who sank both free-throws, and with the ball handed back to the Dragons due to Richardson's unsportsmanlike conduct, Rafi Saipe sank a reverse lay-up.

Ricky Fetske put in a sterling shooting display, sinking 81 per cent from the floor to finish the game on 35 points (also eight rebounds and four assists), with fellow American Gooding adding 18 points (also two rebounds and six assists).

Yet the game's most valuable player was Sulcs, who clocked up a triple double of 18 points, ten rebounds and ten assists.

In a fantastic team effort, Jermayne Laing and Rafi Saipe also contributed ten points each.

Essex Leopards had won their previous two matches, despite making an uncharacteristically poor start to the campaign, and they led 20-13 at the end of the opening quarter as the Dragons looked tired from their exertions of the previous evening and the long motorway trip.

Bradford improved but were still 38-33 down at half-time and although they got it back to 54-52, they were still 63-58 behind before the start of the final period.

A Gooding three-pointer levelled matters at 67-67 but Essex then pulled away to triumph by four points.

Gooding played the full 40 minutes and finished as the game's high scorer with 27 points (also three rebounds), while Sulcs scored 14 points (also five rebounds and three assists).

Jason Swaine (one rebound and two assists) and Ricky Fetske (four rebounds) each added ten points apiece, Antonio Deogratias chipping in with eight points.

Reflective Dragons coach Chris Mellor said: "We played pretty well for all four quarters against Loughborough.

"Our energy, execution and ball movement was where it needs to be and 29 assists and only nine turnovers were big factors.

"Against Essex, we got in some early foul trouble and didn't get into a good rhythm – but we hung around and when we tied the game at 67-67 each, I thought we had good momentum, but we allowed too many easy baskets late in the game."

Bradford's final home fixture before the Christmas break is on Saturday against last season's quadruple winners Manchester Magic.

Despite Magic beating Bradford in the pool stages of the National Trophy earlier this season, the Dragons will fancy their chances this time around.