Leicester Riders roared to another away victory with a crushing 97-69 win at struggling Durham Wildcats yesterday.

The Jelson Homes DMU-backed side were never behind as their overpowered the Wildcats to make it eight league wins from nine on their travels this season.

Drew Sullivan marked his 32nd birthday in style with a dominant 18 points and eight rebounds.

All of Riders' starters scored double figures as they bossed the game.

They got off to a strong start, pushing the ball on the break and using their superior strength inside to open a 12-6 lead.

However, some good play from Mario Flaherty ensured that Riders could not build on that early advantage for some time.

Early in the second quarter, Yorick Williams connected with back-to-back three-pointers.

Bradd Wierzbicki added another as Riders posted a 14-2 run to lead 37-23.

It looked like Riders might run away with the game at that point.

But a Paul Elderkin three-pointer and an interception by the Wildcats helped them to seven unanswered points and narrowed the gap to 43-35 just before half-time.

A thunderous dunk from Ayron Hardy, though, ensured Riders had the momentum heading into the break with a 49-37 lead.

Riders built on their advantage straight after the interval and their defence squeezed the life out of the Wildcats.

Riders kept the home side to only one score in the first eight third-quarter minutes, running in 16 points of their own to put the game out of sight at 65-39.

Riders were in rampant form and some sumptuous passing gave them score after score with Brett Royster throwing down some emphatic dunks inside.

There are tougher tests ahead for Rob Paternostro's men.

However, the manner of this performance will still have been pleasing for the Riders coach.

Wildcats: Flaherty 22, Glavan 12, Pearce 12, P Elderkin 8, Attah 6, Bucci 5, M Elderkin 2, Capocci 2, Jones, Davies, Chalkidis, O'Mahoney.

Riders: Sullivan 18, Wierzbicki 16, Rundles 12, Hardy 12, Royster 11, Williams 8, Lamble 8, Anderson 6, Sherlock 4, Washington 2, Haggith.

Worcester Wolves kept the pressure on Newcastle Eagles at the top of the BBL Championship as they bounced back from last weekend's defeat to the Eagles with a convincing 100-80 victory over the Plymouth Raiders at Worcester University on Saturday evening.