Nick Nurse hailed one of the finest defensive displays he has seen in British basketball as his title chasing Brighton Bears dug themselves out of a hole last night.

Bears overturned a 13-point deficit to win 69-59 at Milton Keynes Lions and keep the heat on leaders Sheffield, whose coach Chris Finch was among the crowd.

Victory was achieved without injured Randy Duck and Emiko Etete and with Sterling Davis struggling with a hamstring problem which makes him 50-50 for tonight's derby at London Towers.

Coach Nurse said: "Our defence in the second half was unbelievable. We gave up 18 points and that's got to be some kind of record for me.

"We played cautiously, then turned it up in the second half and I thought our guys really responded."

Davis enjoyed his sixth successive 20-point league game and Wilbur Johnson claimed 11 rebounds but the key to victory was that second-half defensive display.

In particular Bears fans were thrilled by an amazing third quarter in which Milton Keynes scored four of the first six points and were then blasted by a 20-2 run.

Bears allowed their hosts just one Dru Spinks lay-up in an eight minute spell as they turned a 45-33 deficit into a 53-47 lead to take into the fourth quarter.

The night started well for Bears as Davis quickly showed his jump shot was in good order with six points as Brighton sped into a 10-4 lead.

Freddie Cole though made an explosive start himself with a superb dunk, then the offensive rebound for Spinks to cut the arrears to 2.

The hosts hit the front on a Joel Burns three-pointer with 1.33 to go in the first quarter and finished the period 19-16 up.

They built on that with a 9-0 run early in the second and were 13 clear with 1.18 to go in the half.

Ralph Blalock cut that with a three but Nurse had work to do in his half-time team talk with his side trailing 41-31.

Bears were clearly under orders to increase their defensive intensity and their tempo on offence and a Johnson jumper plus three fast break baskets worked wonders in lifting moral.

Johnson and Rico Alderson added close range baskets to complete the 12-0 surge and, after Spinks' lone reply, Bears hit the front with a long two by Blalock with 2.40 to go in the third.

Davis's steal and dunk was a fitting finale to a spectacular quarter and, when Alderson completed a three-point play after the re-start a 23-2 run was complete.

Lions got back to 58-55 and saw Burns miss with a three to tie the game but Davis came up with a tip-in to help weather the storm and the visitors settled matters with a late 10-2 run.

Bears hope to have their deadline day signing Jason Medford on the bench at Towers tonight.

The 30-year-old 6ft 6in forward from Coventry joined yesterday having previously had stints with Sheffield and Thames Valley, as well as in Germany and the French second division.

He was most recently with Cimbria in Denmark, from where he was due to fly today.

Milton Keynes: Burns 16, Cole 8, Spinks 8, Alleyne 8, Payne 7, Siemon 6, New 6.

Bears: Davis 20, Blalock 17, Johnson 15, Alderson 13, Brown 4.