Basketball: Lewis enlivens Towers' title challenge

London Towers took their challenge for the Budweiser League title up a gear, but lived dangerously with an 85-77 overtime win at Thames Valley Tigers on Saturday and a 72-70 victory over Manchester Giants at Wembley last night.

Karl Brown scored two free throws 14 seconds from time to give Towers' the coach, Kevin Cadle, his 300th league victory. On Saturday, Danny Lewis scored a three-pointer three minutes from time to force overtime on 70 points each. Lewis added 11 in the extra five-minute period, including eight in the 10-3 run which secured victory.

Overtime also looked likely last night when Manchester's Robert Churchwell scored 30 seconds from time to again tie the scores at 70-70. But when Brett Larrick fouled Brown the former England international calmly scored the points which gave Towers a six-point lead over second-placed Birmingham Bullets and Greater London Leopards.

Bullets slipped further behind Towers with last night's 87-80 defeat at Leopards. Three-pointers from Ryan Cuff and John White opened an 83- 75 match-winning lead for the defending champions, following their 102- 92 win at Watford.

Sheffield Sharks moved up to joint fourth alongside Newcastle Eagles with two wins. The Sharks followed Saturday's 91-65 victory at Worthing Bears by handing the Tigers their second defeat of the weekend, by 79- 78 last night. Chester Jets, beaten 73-71 at Derby Storm on Saturday by a three-pointer from Stedroy Baker, were saved by a Brian Lloyd three- pointer last night.