Brighton Bears BBL Championship hopes received a setback last night after a surprise 94-82 defeat at Newcastle Eagles.

Bears were expected to make it ten straight wins against a team they have already beaten twice this season.

But they came unstuck as Eagles produced one of their best performances of the campaign to leave Bears still four points behind leaders Sheffield Sharks.

Injury-hit Bears were still without Randy Duck while veteran centre Wilbur Johnson was also absent in the north-east after he was given permission by the club to to return to America to attend to a family-related matter.

Ralph Blalock suited against one of his former clubs, but made little impact because of a broken toe.

Bears still have three games in hand over Sheffield and have an early chance to bounce back from this setback when they aim to defeat Scottish Rocks for the second time in ten days on Saturday.

There was little between the teams in the first half with Eagles leading 25-21 after the first quarter, and they were locked together at 43-43 at the interval.

Newcastle began to get on top in the latter part of the third quarter and an important unanswered burst of eight points helped them into a 63-52 lead.

The hosts had a 13 point advantage at 69-56 going into the final quarter, and the lead was only trimmed to single figures once at 84-75 with just over three minutes to play.

Jeremy Hyatt led all scorers with 30 points and although hardworking American forward Sterling Davis returned fire with 27 points it was not enough to prevent Bears from a first defeat of 2003.

Newcastle, who were denied a place in the BBL Trophy final by Chester Jets on Saturday, move up to joint fourth place with Thames Valley on 28 points.