Basketball: Riders rattle Rocks with Holley record

Scottish Rocks were clinging to first place in the British Basketball League after a 65-62 defeat at De Montfort University against the second-placed Leicester Riders on Saturday night cut their lead to two points. But for the defending champions Chester Jets, there was more woe last night with a home loss against London Towers.

Riders' recent American signing Deginald Erskin led Riders with 20 points and former Rock Ryan Huntley secured the win with a single free throw. But it was the veteran forward Tony Holley who entered the BBL's record books when his rebound with 27 seconds remaining crucially stole possession for the Riders and put him top of the league's all-time list for offensive rebounds.

But while the Rocks and Riders tussled to close on their first BBL league title, ailing Jets lost 79-76, their sixth defeat in nine. Lightweight in the front line after releasing long-term injury victim Calvin Davis after six years with the club, the Jets needed 26 points from guard Phillip Gilbert to stay in touch.

Shawn Myers added 19 points as the Jets hauled themselves back to tie the scores on 70-70. Then a three-pointer from Jamal Brown cut London's lead to 77-76, but their leading scorer Chez Marks, who totalled 22 points, sealed the win with two free throws.

Guildford Heat became the second club in a week to cancel the contract of an American due to injury, when they released the point guard Brian Dux because of a foot injury.