Basketball: Blalock inspires Bears to victory in overtime

Brighton Bears ended a three-game losing streak with a 71-68 BBL Championship win over London Towers in overtime last night, despite trailing 60-56 inside the final minute of regular time.

Brighton Bears ended a three-game losing streak with a 71-68 BBL Championship win over London Towers in overtime last night, despite trailing 60-56 inside the final minute of regular time.

A three-pointer from Shaheen Holloway opened a 60-56 lead for the Towers, who looked to be heading for their sixth consecutive victory after defeating the bottom club, Leicester Riders, 82-74 on Saturday.

But two free throws from Wilbur Johnson cut their lead then, after Towers lost possession, Ralph Blalock scored with four seconds left to tie the game. Blalock, Rico Alderson and Michael Brown scored the first seven points of the extra period for Bears, who are four wins behind the leaders, Sheffield Sharks, with three games in hand.

Chester Jets are also four wins behind the Sharks, but with only two games in hand, after defeating Leicester 104-88 last night. Newcastle Eagles took a grip on fourth place with a 98-82 stroll against Birmingham Bullets at the Aston Events Centre on Saturday.

Eagles' victory, 24 hours after defeating Thames Valley Tigers 98-78 at the Telewest Arena, took them two wins clear of Towers, who jumped to fifth above the Tigers.

Bullets, one place above Leicester and chasing Milton Keynes Lions and Essex Leopards for the final quarter-final spot, had won their previous four home games but surrendered the initiative from the opening shots against Eagles.