WORCESTER Wolves began the British Basketball League season with two defeats.

They went down 85-79 to Plymouth Raiders at the University of Worcester following a 94-90 defeat at Milton Keynes Lions in the opener.

Director of basketball Mick Donovan said: "We are clearly disappointed to lose what were realistically two winable games.

"However, in terms of performance and the potential that we have with this new group of players, we are very excited within the club.

"Those who watched on Saturday and who understand the game will be aware that this could be a time when Worcester finally compete at the highest level."

New-look Wolves took to the floor in front of a large home crowd to play visitors Plymouth Raiders on Saturday.

The game started at a frantic pace with both teams scoring at will.

Chuck Evans made a great start for Wolves, hitting a range of jumps shots, while Dave Mallon and Shaun Durant were a massive threat.

Markus Hallgrimson made a long-range three-pointer on the buzzer to send Wolves into a 25-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Raiders took the initiative and Wolves were guilty of missing several open shots.

Despite exciting offensive play by Anthony Paez and Michael Gayle, Raiders went into a 48-37 lead at half-time.

The game swung back into Wolves favour in the third quarter with Skouson Harker rallying his players.

The impressive Durant and Evans led the Wolves fightback offensively.

Mallon, supported again by Durant at the defensive end, controlled the Plymouth threat as the two teams went into the final quarter tied at 58-58.

In the closing stages, the teams exchanged baskets as Paez and Evans hit crucial three-pointers. But Harker received a technical foul and Plymouth bagged both free-throws before scoring from the resulting possession.

Wolves worked hard to reduce the deficit but were left to regret the misses in the earlier stages of the game.

Paez finished with 22 points, Durant 19 and Evans 14. Durant took nine rebounds and Mallon eight.

In the defeat at Milton Keynes, Wolves took the game to the wire against a team including England international Yorick Williams.

The first quarter ended at 30-28 to Lions with honours even at 49-49 by half-time.

Paez impressed with 21 quick points, eventually finishing with 33, and Mallon sank 12 points, including two powerful slam dunks.

Wolves were 64-63 up at the end of the third period and led 85-80 with two-and-a-half minutes left. But Lions struck with a succession of three-point plays to steal the game in the dying seconds.