Brighton Cougars need to win their last game to clinch home advantage in the play-offs and coach Mike Blatchford admitted: "This is not the position I wanted to be in."

Cougars suffered a nightmare second quarter at home to Colchester last week on their way to a potentially costly 91-82 defeat in NBL division two south.

A win at home to Brixton next Saturday can still ensure second place in the table and a home tie in the post season.

Blatchford said: "Other than the second quarter we played really well and that's what makes it especially frustrating.

"Colchester play a zone and I don't like zone defences. I get really upset when my teams do not play well against a zone but I'm afraid we got selfish.

"We had people going one-on-one and taking bad shots which you cannot afford to do."

Cougars were outscored 30-8 in the second period and their French guard Emmanuel Laroche admitted: "We will remember that quarter for a long time."

Colchester led by 17 at the half and 28 midway through the third quarter.

Cougars had cut that to 16 by the final break and were just four down with 54 seconds to go.

They got no closer though as Colchester kept their cool at the free throw line.

Ramy Malik's 31-point haul included just one three-pointer.

Now Blatchford is turning his attention towards the decisive Brixton game.

He said: "I saw Brixton last Sunday. They play well as a unit and it will take hard work from us to beat them."

Cougars: Malik 31, Laroche 11, McQueen 10, Burns 10.