UOG Raiders win first BUCS game in two years

The University of Gloucestershire’s men’s basketball team recorded their first win in two years as they beat Winchester University 69-58 at the Oxstalls Sports Park in Gloucester.

Gloucestershire were deserved victors in the end but had to wait a long time to celebrate as the final minute of the game ended up taking over five minutes due to timeouts and fouls by Winchester.

Club captain Craig Hughes said he was “over the moon” after winning his first game since he was a fresher in the side.

He said: “That was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.

“I think we played really well apart from the slow start and this is my first win since first year so I’m chuffed to bits.

“We said at the start of the year that there’s a couple of teams that we can definitely beat so we decided to target those games,” added Hughes.

“We’ve had two really good weeks of training for this one and it’s paid off. I can’t believe it.”

The Raiders did start very slowly and struggled to match the physicality of Winchester in the early stages.

Winchester led the game until the third quarter but once Gloucestershire got into their stride, there was no stopping them.

Small forward Jake Hawksbee pulled off some great dribbles early on and managed to keep Gloucestershire in touching distance with two free throw conversions at the end of the first quarter.

Gloucestershire then started the second quarter very positively, scoring from their first two attacks.

Point guard Sebastien Blin was also exemplary as he produced a series of stunning solo runs throughout the game that left Winchester helpless in defence.

In truth, every Raiders player performed brilliantly on the night and it was impossible for Greaves to single out any individuals.

“It was a tough game, very physical. There were no easy baskets in that one but everyone played well,” said Greaves.

“I can’t praise them all enough.”

The win takes Gloucestershire off the bottom of the BUCS Western 2A division and the team will face Exeter University’s second team on November 27 in their fourth game of the BUCS season.