WORCESTER Wolves head to Milton Keynes Lions tonight (7.30pm) intent on consigning the Leicester Riders defeat to history.

Second-placed Wolves’ run of four consecutive British Basketball League victories came to an abrupt end on Wednesday with a 99-75 home loss against the East Midlanders.

Despite leading for more than half the contest, Paul James’ side were stunned by a 26-9 third-quarter blitz from Leicester and could not find a way back.

But tonight’s match in Buckinghamshire is another chance for them to draw level with Newcastle Eagles at the summit going into 2012.

They also have a further incentive to succeed after losing 99-82 on the Lions’ court in front of the Sky Sports cameras in late November.

James knows it won’t be easy to set the record straight, particularly given that Lions forward Demarius Bolds currently leads the BBL scoring charts with an average of 25.3 points per game.

The Wolves director of basketball said: “The Lions are a high energy team and their coach Mike New has done a good job with them this season.

“Demarius Bolds is their heartbeat and scores for fun. We need to be disciplined and try and play our game.”

Wolves will, however, be able to call on influential forward Tommy Freeman as his one-match ban does not kick in until next month.

The free-scoring American was penalised for two unsportsmanlike fouls during the Riders contest and will miss the trip to Mersey Tigers on Friday, January 13, unless Wolves appeal the decision.

Freeman has averaged 17.9 points per game this term and is just one of the players Milton Keynes will be keeping close tabs on.

Lions point guard Stefan Gill said: “We have to focus on Tommy and Richie Gordon as they put up big numbers against us.”