Klassen's triple double gives Leeds Force renewed hope

The Canadian guard finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the home side overturned a half-time deficit to keep their post-season hopes alive.

Kwan Waller top scored with 17 points, while Rob Marsden added 16 points and 10 rebounds for a fine double-double performance.

Back-to-back triples from Louis Sayers fired Leeds into an early lead, but it was the visitors who gained control with a 10-2 run as they went on to build a double-digit advantage in the second.

Leeds managed to halve the deficit heading into the break, and continued to step up their defensive intensity with Lions’ scoring production decreasing each quarter.

The visitors led by as many as nine in the third, but when Armand Anebo netted from deep at the buzzer, it was a one-point game heading into the fourth.

London led 57-60 approaching the midway point in the final quarter before Leeds enjoyed a pivotal 11-1 spell with Waller scoring seven points in the run to all but secure the victory.

The Lions were led by Alex Owumi’s 18 points as they suffered their second loss on the weekend to fall to an 11-13 record with their spot in the play-offs far from guaranteed.