Brighton Bears 82 (21,50,67) (Davis 20, Blalock 19, Duck 17)
DG Essex Leopards Kool Kats 81 (14,32,58) (McIntosh 26, Brown 19, Williams 16)

Brighton Bears maintained their lead at the top of the BBL Championship thanks to a nail-biting 82-81 success over DG Essex Leopards Kool Kats on Thursday evening.

Brighton dominated the first half, leading 50-32 at half-time. Leopards clawed their way back and by the end of the third stanza the deficit was down to just nine points at 67-58. Leopards took the lead in the fourth at 75-73,
but it was to be their only lead. 

With nine and a half seconds left, Marshall Sanders fouled Randy Duck with the scores tied at 81-81 and the Bears captain scored one of his foul shots to give Bears the advantage at 82-81. Sly McIntosh then shot on the buzzer, but his three point attempt missed. 

McIntosh finished as the game's leading scorer with 26 personal points; Sterling Davis added 20 for Brighton.
 

Leicester Riders 78 (27,38,54) (Porter 20, Webber 17, winn 15)
Scottish Phoenix Mitsubishi Rocks 94 (14,40,69) (Berry 26, Sheckles 23, Myers 20)

Scottish Phoenix Mitsubishi Rocks rose to sixth position in the BBL Championship table thanks to a 94-78 road success over Leicester Riders on Thursday evening. 

Despite being without the suspended Maurice Robinson and Malcolm Leak, Riders started very well and enjoyed an early 20-7 advantage, which they extended to 34-17 midway through the second quarter. 

Rocks hit back with 23 of the next 25 points to take the lead for the first time in the game at 40-36. With the Scots leading 49-46 midway through the third stanza, they then added to their lead with a 15-2 run that put them 64-48 to the good and Riders could find no way back. 

Ted Berry led all scorers with 26 points for the Rocks with Stephan Sheckles hitting seven three-pointers. Mario Porter led the way for Riders with 20.
 

Westfield Sharks Sheffield 102 (29,52,81) (Williams 21, Yanders 19, McKinney 15)
Milton Keynes Lions 74 (19,37,55) (New 20, Alleyne 16, Siemon 14)

Westfield Sharks Sheffield kept up the pressure on Brighton Bears with a 102-74 success over Milton Keynes Lions on Thursday night.

Aside from an early Lions lead at 11-8, following seven unanswered points from the visitors, Sharks led throughout. A 19-4 first quarter charge gave them the advantage at 27-15, with Iain McKinney netting a trio of three pointers in that run. Sharks led 52-37 at half-time and added to their lead with a 14-2 third quarter run and an 8-2 fourth quarter burst, which gave them a 30-point lead at 96-66. 

There was no way back for Lions, who were without Joel Burns and had Freddie Cole at less than full fitness. 

Sharks, who were led by 21 points from Jerry Williams, got half their points tally from three point range, netting 17 of 27 attempts from downtown. Michael New added 20 points for the Lions.