WORCESTER Wolves' first home game in the National Basketball League Division One ended in defeat.

Most of a large crowd packed into the sports hall at University College Worcester went home disappointed as visitors Hull Icebergs won 89-71.

Fotos Mavraganis returned from injury for the Wolves and Gareth Di Gallo made his home debut.

However, Rhys Hocking was missing which was a blow to the Wolves as the young forward has been very impressive in earlier games.

The Wolves started slowly against a faster and hungrier Hull team, and Seamarks and Penner hit early baskets to give Hull a nine-point lead.

It was not until the fifth minute that Worcester opened their account, Nick Vinsonneau scoring his two free throws after being fouled going to basket.

Ben Livingston and Cecil Gordon then scored some long range efforts yet it became clear that the Wolves were struggling with rebounding in this higher league and the bigger Hull team were dominating the boards at both ends of the court. At half-time Worcester were trailing by 13 points.

At the start of the second half the crowd got behind the Worcester team and Rick Solvason and Colin Chiverton had some offensive success as the home team looked to be coming back into the game.

The steady Hull team then composed themselves and tightened their grip on the game. Di Gallo was introduced and showed some encouraging signs. Mavraganis came into the game and protected the ball well at point guard and showed no signs of his injury problems.

The normally high scoring Solvason and Chiverton were both somewhat below par and despite a spirited attempt to stay in the game the Wolves never really recovered from the slow opening in the first quarter.

The Worcester team have to make adjustments to their game if they are going to bridge the gap between the divisions.

Game coach Stuart France said afterwards: "It was a disappointing performance.

"We can talk all sorts of coaching theory but we need to play better -- simple as that."

The Wolves travel to Ealing next Saturday but then play three games at home, against Cardiff, Liverpool and Ware respectively on December 8, 15 and 22.