Thunder led 22-21 at the end of a first quarter, where the lead changed five times.

But Eagles' greater depth and experience told in the second quarter. They won it 35-14, which included a 15-point run, to quash any hopes of a hometown shock.

Thunder trailed 56-36 at half-time, and Newcastle moved 71-45 ahead during the third quarter before debut-making Coly Bargeman scored six quick points during an 11-point Thunder run.

Newcastle still led by 22 points heading into the last quarter but a 16-5 Thunder run left Eagles 11 points ahead with 4½ minutes to play. However, with both Bargeman and Janis Ivanovskis fouling out, Worthing were unable to get the deficit into single figures.

Thunder coach Gary Smith said: "What you have to remember is that we are really still only in pre-season.

"Colby Bargeman only flew in on Wednesday, and Dan Wardrope has just recovered from a calf injury sustained in the first five minutes of our first warm-up game.

"Now we have a week to work on the things that have come up from both this game and last week against Plymouth before we travel up to Cheshire on Sunday.

"The players that we have brought in have stepped up and I hope to see even greater improvement as the season goes on.

"Right about now, we have lost our first two games against two of the best teams in this league, so we need to start winning games.

"The wins will come. We just need to keep working together and playing for each other."

Scorers - Thunder: Woods 22 (9 rebounds), Patton 19, Ivanovskis 17 (13 rebounds), Bargeman 15, Perkins 8, Wardrope 2, Hildreth 1, Midgley 0, Brame 0. Did not play: Jordan, Berry, Burns.

Eagles: Moore 19, Bridge 17, Sullivan 17, Flournoy 15, Stewart 14, Jackson 5, Spragg 5, Toney 4, Defoe 2. Did not play: Neilsen, Attah, McCotter.

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