Saturday's ferociously contested clash with Towers should have gone down as one of Bears' great derby wins - instead, they will remember it as the one that got away.

Home fans still recall Towers' crucial one-point success in Burgess Hill this time last year when Brown's last gasp three-point attempt hit the rim and stayed out.

This time Brown connected with nothing but net 0.7 seconds from the end of regulation time to force an 81-81 tie amid ecstatic scenes.

Bears should have won it from there. Towers' star centre Kendrick Warren had already fouled out and Robert Youngblood followed him on an unsportsmanlike and a technical in the first half of overtime but the hosts missed four three throws.

Still they led 88-85 with 1:33 to go but Myers hit seven unanswered points, including a three 13.2 seconds from time, as Bears faltered at the other end.

Wilbur Johnson in particular had a horrible night in front of the basket, hitting five of 15 from the field and seven of 12 at the line, and could only gaze up at the hoop in despair as Towers celebrated.

It should never have come to that. Bears survived a 7-0 opening Towers blast to finish the first period at 21-21 and were four up before a strong Theo Dixon finish to the half saw Towers change ends 43-40 to the good.

Home fans waited for the trademark third quarter charge and it came to the tune of 18-3, including some scintillating work from Blalock, who had ten of those points.

The run ended when Davis missed a free throw at 60-52. Brown snaffled the rebound under the basket but a retake was ordered as Stuart Robbins had stepped into the key too early. Davis then missed again and Towers responded with 11 unanswered points either side of the third interval.

From then it was neck and neck. Blalock produced a couple of fabulous moves, Myers responded and Dixon and Brown traded threes before two John O'Connell free throws looked to have settled it as Towers led 81-76 with 33 seconds to play.

Duck though hit two from the line and Towers made a mess of their last offence, allowing Bears to take the ball with 10.3 seconds to go and find Brown in enough space to temporarily save the day.

Bears: Blalock 30, Johnson 17, Duck 15, Davis 13, Brown 11, Etete 2.

Towers: Dixon 31, Myers 26, Warren 16, Robbins 8, O'Connell 4, Youngblood 4, Holloway 3.