WORCESTER WOLVES came close to upsetting one of National Basketball League Division Two's top sides - Manchester Magic - but ultimately fell just short.
Wolves were trailing by a sole point with 19 seconds to play, and looked like they could do it after forcing the hosts into a backcourt violation, but Manchester weathered the storm to emerge 62-59 winners.
The tightly-contested nature of the game was clear from the outset. A double of three-pointers from Magic's Tyme Regent-Bascomb was swiftly responded to by a triple of Wolves' own, courtesy of Jacob Dearman.
Worcester ended the first quarter in a 15-9 lead, but Regent-Bascombe resumed his fine form in the second period to put his side 20-18 ahead, just three minutes into the second quarter.
Worcester would take the lead back heading into half time, with some great rim defending from Wolves' big man pairing of James Davis and Dume Okibe.
The second half started with Worcester up 29-25. Magic quickly regained control of the game with seven unanswered points.
As the game entered crunch time, Wolves trailed by a single point at 43-42, before regaining the lead thanks to Jeremy Lievin.
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At 60-59, and with mere seconds to play, Worcester came close, forcing Magic into a backcourt violation to regain possession.
Unfortunately they were unable to capitalise, and Magic escaped with a 62-59 victory.
"The guys did everything I asked them to and competed hard for 40 minutes," said head coach Dean Blake, speaking after the game. "It wasn’t a pretty game with so many lead changes, and maybe some decisions I made down the stretch gave Manchester the advantage they needed to take the win, but I’m really happy with the players’ efforts.
"We’ve got a few players out injured and I had to ask a lot from everyone. We didn’t win but we still fought and battled to keep the game close."
With the latest results accounted for, Wolves now sit ninth in the Division Two North, however they have games in hand on a number of sides above them.
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