LONDON Leopards’ big charity fundraising day was brought to a premature end after star point guard Carl Latham-Henry suffered a neck ligament injury.

The former Middlesbrough College student was left pole-axed on the court after colliding with Bristol Academy Flyers’ guard Greg Street with just 24 seconds remaining of Sunday's match at the Brentwood Centre.

Following a 30-minute delay while an ambulance crew tended to the injured player, the fixture was abandoned with the Leopards trailing 92-86 in their EBL Division One clash.

Latham-Henry, 25, was taken to Queen’s Hospital in Romford where, following a thorough examination, there was found to be no damage to the player's spine and he was released.

The unfortunate injury brought a sad end to a memorable day that saw the Leopards raise £1,200 for the Beckton-based Richard House Children’s Hospice through an auction of sporting memorabilia.

Earlier, Latham-Henry and Croatian Hrvoje Pervan had scored 26 points apiece as the Leopards desperately tried to stay with their opponents.

The Flyers had looked on course for a comfortable victory as they led 90-77 with a minute and 20 seconds remaining, only for two three-pointers from Gareth Laws and one from Pervan to reduce the deficit to six before the game’s premature end.

A final decision over whether the game will be replayed rests with the England Basketball governing body, by Leopards general manager Dave Ryan has offered to play the remaining 24 seconds when the clubs play an EBL Trophy game in Bristol in January.

“We’re not looking to gain any advantage from the situation,” said Ryan.

“We were still in with a chance, albeit an outside one, of winning the game and even though we’ll be at a disadvantage having to play it Bristol it seems the fairest way of doing it.”

Leopards scorers: Latham-Henry 26, Pervan 26, Laws 14, Jordan 6, Volskis 5, Adeleke 4, Greenan 2, Wilkinson 2.