NOT playing on Saturday worked to the advantage of Bradford Dragons as they won 99-86 at Loughborough Student Riders on Sunday afternoon.

Loughborough were fifth in the Division One table, two places above the Dragons, prior to the weekend's National Basketball League fixtures.

Yet the Riders had a tough agenda, playing leaders Team Northumbria and losing 75-68 just 24 hours prior to the visit of Bradford.

The hosts took the first two points of the game, which was immediately cancelled out by lay-up from Ricky Fetske. He was fouled in the process and added the extra point to give the Dragons an early lead.

Loughborough hit straight back and pushed themselves into a four-point advantage at 7-3 – but that was just about as good as it got for the Riders.

Rihards Sulcs netted a two-pointer, quickly followed by a three from Eisley Swaine, to nudge Bradford back into the lead, which was extended to 14-7 following an uninterrupted 11-point run.

The visitors maintained the pressure and at the end of the opening quarter they held a nine-point advantage at 26-17.

Bradford did not have it all their own way as the home side slowly fought their way back into the game. After five minutes of the second period, the scores were tied at 33-33 – and Loughborough soon added another two points to regain the lead.

It was a kick in the teeth for the Dragons, who responded with a three-pointer from Jason Swaine to resume control, and when the hooter sounded for half-time, it was they who went back to the locker room with a four-point cushion at 48-44.

The second half started with Marcus Gooding and Fetske bagging a couple of two-pointers to extend Bradford's lead.

Try as they might, there was little the hosts could do to pull the game back and at the end of the penultimate quarter the Dragons' lead was up to 12 points on 70-56.

Into the final period, the hosts mustered whatever fight they could and pulled the deficit back to seven points (79-72).

Yet ultimately Bradford had more in their tank and when Rafi Saipe landed a two-pointer with only three minutes remaining, the Dragons were firmly in control at 91-75.

That was enough for the visitors to safely see the game out and at the final buzzer they were able to celebrate a comfortable yet vital victory.

Sulcs, continuing his rich vein of form, topped the Dragons scoring with 25 points plus ten rebounds to record yet another double-double.

Fetske also logged the double D, clocking up 17 points and ten rebounds, while Gooding contributed a further 16 points towards the total.

In a great team display, it would be unfair not to also recognise the contributions of Eisley Swaine (11 points), Jermaine Laing (ten), Saipe (ten) and Jason Swaine (nine).

Dragons coach Chris Mellor summed up his team's performance by saying: "We came out with good intensity and I thought we controlled the game well at both ends.

"The fact that they played the day before was obviously to our advantage but it was still a good team performance."

The Dragons remain seventh in the table, while Loughborough slipped one place to sixth. Other results saw Team Northumbria take a key step towards the title by beating close rivals, and last season's quadruple winners, Manchester Magic, while Westminster Warriors finally picked up their first win of the season at Essex Leopards.

The Leopards provide the next challenge for Bradford when they visit the Dragons Den on Saturday (6.15pm) in what will be another vital test for the Dragons as they aim to keep the chasing pack at bay and secure a place in the play-offs.