ESSEX Leopards now have the best winning percentage in EBL Division One following Sunday’s 78-73 overtime win against the Bradford Dragons.

The Big Cats trailed most of regulation time against Dragons before a 14-2 run capped by three point plays from Howard Crawford and Carl Josey saw Leopards take a 68-62 lead into the final two minutes.

However the points dried up at that stage and Dragons’ American forward Dan Foley twice scored three pointers and Josey and Siman Stewart both missed shots which would have sealed the win.

The drought continued until the 3:16 mark when Courtney Van Beest tied the score at 70 after Carl Pearson’s pair of free-throws had opened the extra five minute period.

Despite Crawford fouling out that launched an 8-0 run that effectively sealed the win, with Van Beest and Josey hitting jump shots.

Bradford never got closer than three points in the final minutes as Kris Clark wrapped up the win from the foul line. Clark finished with a team-high 23 points and five assists, with Crawford adding 19 points and seven rebounds.

Captain Josey had nine rebounds to go with his 10 points with Stewart also finishing with nine boards along with seven points.

Leopards now sit third in the table with six wins in seven games and host sixth placed Reading Rockets at the Brentwood Centre on Sunday, tip off 4pm.