Bradford Dragons maintained their English Basketball League Division Three North (Men) promotion push with an assured 77–60 win at third-placed Loughborough Cardinals.

Following the previous Sunday's National Shield semi-final win against the Cardinals, the first quarter saw a slight advantage to the Cardinals as they edged the period 12–11.

However, the Dragons' defence then took control to win the second stanza 25–9 to establish a commanding 36–21 lead at half-time.

Although the Cardinals edged the third quarter 22– 21, Dragons took the final quarter by three points to run out comfortable winners with nine players on the scoreboard.

For Dragons, Vance Silcott top scored with 22 points and Craig Wilson and Luke Malek each hit 12 points.

After the game, Dragons' coach Chris Mellor said: "It was a very good team performance - we showed patience and executed very well offensively. To hold a talented team like Loughborough to 60 points was very pleasing."

Elsewhere for Dragons, Dragons under-15s travelled to Barrow and lost 108-84, an injury-ravaged Dragons under-14s went down 110-56 to visitors Oldham Titans, and then lost 138-38 to a powerful Cheshire Jets.

Dragons' under-13s travelled to York and lost 46-39 to Leeds Carnegie but beat York Eagles 42–40.

Dragon’s next EBL Division Three home game is against City of Nottingham Tribe on Saturday (6.15) in the Trinity Green sports hall, at Bradford College, Trinity Road, Bradford BD5 0JE. Admission is £3 and £1.50 for concessions For further details, contact Stuart Culliford on 07816-610600 or e-mail info@bradforddragons.co.uk or visit the Dragons website at www.bradforddragons.co.uk.