WORCESTER Wolves slumped to a 104-59 defeat when they visited National basketball League Division One leaders Oxford Devils.

They sent out a first five of Ben Livingston, Rhys Hocking, Colin Chiverton, Nick Vinsonneau and Rick Solvason while the Oxford team included the excellent three-point shooter Paul Alexander.

Oxford set a fast pace in the first quarter and opened the game with an early six point lead.

Wolves responded with two neatly worked baskets and an excellent three-point shot from Ben Livingston.

Chiverton then came into the game with some fast-forward moves yet Alexander was finding space at the Wolves end of the court and started to find his range.

The Devils led Wolves at the end of the first quarter 24-18.

The second quarter was one the Wolves will want to forget.

Within the ten minute spell Worcester only scored five points while Oxford added 25 points to their tally giving the thems a 49-23 point lead.

The well organised Oxford outfit simply outplayed their visitors and consequently Stuart France and Rick Solvason used the full half time break in the changing rooms in an attempt to analyse and correct the damage.

The second half started brightly for the Wolves with Chiverton and Vinsonneau combining well for Worcester.

Oxford, led by Alexander, Continued to play well and extended their lead. Wolves entered the final quarter with their tails between their legs and with the game well and truly gone, yet tried to salvage some pride. The match finished with Wolves suffering their heaviest defeat in their short history.

Worcester's head coach Mick Solvason said afterwards: "We need to be at our best to compete at this level, tonight clearly we were not."

Director of Operations Mick Donovan said: "We are aware that we are learning about this level of basketball this year, but more importantly learning a great deal about our own players, How the team respond next week will be significant in many ways."

Wolves play North London Lords at University College Worcester on Saturday (7 pm) and Donaovan says: "We will need the support of our fans to help keep us out of a relegation fight and push us up to a play-off spot."

The Lords won the National Shield last year, hosted by Worcester, but have struggled this year and are just below Worcester.