Basketball: Phillips' misses costly for Bullets

Birmingham Bullets' European Champions' Cup dream ended at the Aston Events Centre last night when Dijon beat them 85-84 to claim the second qualifying place from Group A of the West Conference.

Sullivan Phillips missed two free throws to allow the French club to finish second and qualify for the Pan European Round.

Bullets knew they had little chance of scrambling into the next phase as the best third-placed team in the Conference. Their six wins had all been by narrow margins, and a heavy defeat in Tenerife two weeks ago left their points difference significantly in the red.

Last night's scores were tied on 83-83 when Phillips was fouled seconds from the end, but could score only one free.

American Rick Hughes, who led all scorers with 29 points, put Dijon 85-84 ahead, but Bullets were thrown a lifeline when Mike Redd stole possession and fed Phillips through.

Phillips was fouled going for the winning dunk and Bullets' future in the competition was back in the balance, only to be abruptly ended when he missed the free throws. Michael Jackson led Bullets' scorers with 27.