THE comeback kings Marjon Plymouth Raiders were at it again on Merseyside last night.

Gavin Love's team trailed Mersey Tigers by as many as 11 points, 59-48 late in the third quarter in the BBL Championship before finally prevailing by 10, 83-73 in a 21 point turnaround in the fourth quarter, which they ran away with 30-14.

A 13-0 Raiders run grabbed a 61-59 lead early in the fourth before Love's players sealed the deal to go 11-3 in the league with a 17-5 streak, which built a 13 point, 83-70 gap at the death.

Guard James Jones ignited the evening's decisive run with a three on Jeremy Bell's assist with 4:46 remaining.

Rookie Michael Ojo scored to extend the gap to six, 71-65.

A Matthew Otten three brought Tigers back within three at 73-70 inside the final three minutes before Paul Williams baskets sparked and capped the following unanswered 10 Raiders points.

In between, 4/4 Bell free-throws and 2/2 from Ojo helped settle the contest.

Raiders and Tigers traded baskets in the opening eight minutes of the first quarter before a 9-2 finish to the frame from Raiders broke a 14-13 lead and built an eight point, 23-15 gap.

Raiders centre Williams sparked it with a basket before guard Bell built on it with a three and capped it with a bucket

Bell had 11 points at the end of the opening period backed by six points from forward Jamal Williams, starting a second game on the spin in place of injured Anthony Rowe (ankle sprain).

Tigers took control from the start of the second with a 19-4 tear which turned around the deficit into a seven point, 34-27 lead.

Guard Otten ignited it with a three and five of points supported by two threes from guard Antonio Bustamante and six points from forward and former Raider Sam Cricelli.

The gap grew to as many as 10, 40-30 late in the half on 7ft centre Morakinyo Williams' bucket.

Tigers' lead was up to 11 points, 59-48 on Otten's basket at the end of the third before Raiders roared back with a 13-0 rally spanning the start of the fourth to lead by two, 61-59 on Lehmon Colbert's bucket with 7:51 left in the game.

Bell sparked the response with a three before Ojo added 2/2 free-throws to close the third frame and cut the gap to six, 59-53.

Jones, Paul Williams and Ojo scored at the start of the fourth to tie it at 59-59.

PLYMOUTH Marjon host UWIC in Division Three South of the EBL at UCP Marjon tomorrow (3pm) and not today as reported in yesterday's Herald.

STATS

Points: Raiders: Bell 24 (7/16 Field-Goals), Ojo 13 (4/11), P Williams 13 (6/10), Colbert 11 (4/7), J Williams 10 (5/6), Jones 9 (3/16); Mersey: Otten 21 (9/16), Bailey 14 (6/7), Cricelli 13 (6/11), Bustamante 13 (4/12)

Leading rebounder: Raiders: P Williams 12; Mersey: Otten 11

Leader in assists: Raiders: Jones/Colbert 6; Mersey: Bustamante 6

Field-Goal Percentage: Raiders: 42 per cent (30/71 attempts); Mersey: 38 per cent (28/74)

Three-Point Percentage: Raiders: 24 per cent (6/25 attempts); Mersey: 41 per cent (7/17)

Free-Throw Percentage: Raiders: 74 per cent (17/23 attempts); Mersey: 53 per cent (10/19)

OTHER RESULTS

Last night: BBL Championship: Newcastle 94 Durham 69, Sheffield 87 Guildford 78, Milton Keynes 96 Leicester 99