Bradford Dragons beat Sheffield Arrows 95-70 to stay top of the English Basketball League Division Two table and extend their unbeaten start to the season.

Dragons pressed full court from the start but, with Steven Hodge on target from beyond the arc, Arrows were still in the game at 23-18 down at the end of the first quarter.

Dragons struggled to control the game, with Hodge on his way to a game-high 28 points, and only a last-second trey from Michal Ciesla saved their blushes as Arrows shaded the second quarter to trail 42-38.

Dragons at last stamped their authority on the game in the third quarter to lead 68-49, with three treys from Raimond Pabrieza and a combination block, save and then no look assist from Jimi Pournoori catching the eye.

In the final quarter, with coach Chris Mellor running the bench, Pabrieza stole the show on his way to a 23-point haul, including six from beyond the arc.

Ciesla had his best game to date in a Dragons vest with 15 points, eight assists and three steals as Dragons ran out winners by 25 points.

Mellor said: “Sheffield played well in the first half, with Hodge doing most of the damage, but our concentration and focus was very poor.

“We changed a few things around at half-time, started playing defence and, with the help of Raimond Pabrieza’s three-point shooting we controlled the second half.

“We need to play for four quarters though, not two.”

Dragons’ travel to London to play Hemel Storm on Saturday (7pm). Places on the team bus are available at £10 per seat for the return journey.

Their next home game is an EBL Division Two fixture against Mansfield Giants on Saturday, January 8.

Elsewhere, Dragons 2 lost 78-65 at local rivals Bradford Maroons in the Leeds Premier League, Dragons 3 lost 95-59 at York University, the under-16s went down 128-69 at Durham Wildcats and the under-14s put up a spirited display but lost 78-34 at York Eagles.

It was better news for the under-18s though as they edged a thriller at Durham Wildcats 75-74.