Randy Duck may not be "ecstatic" about his new found authority as Brighton Bears stand-in coach but the responsibility did not weigh on him at all last night.

Duck confessed before the BBL game at the Brighton Centre he was not enjoying the role put on his shoulders while Nick Nurse takes a short break.

But there was not a hint of anxiety as bottom of the table Birmingham Bullets were firmly put in their place as Bears started an important week with a thumping win.

With leaders Sheffield Sharks in action only once this week, at Thames Valley on Saturday, second-placed Bears have the chance to make up ground with two of their games in hand.

They entertain Chester Jets at Burgess Hill on Saturday before a quick return to play Birmingham on Sunday at the Birmingham Basketball Centre and Duck knows only too well that the Chester clash will present a far sterner test as they are Bears' opponents in the BBL Trophy final.

Nurse will be back in charge for Saturday's clash and Duck, recovering from injury, will be happy to hand back over.

He admitted: "If I were a coach from the beginning I would probably be ectstatic, but I wasn't and I'm not.

"I just don't want, when I get back into playing, for people to resent the fact that I was actually telling them what to do only a month ago. It's going to be a weird transition."

Bears, who overwhelmed hapless Birmingham by 37 points earlier in the season, ensured Duck signed off on the highest possible note by taking apart a side who have managed only one win all season.

Leading 64-32 at the break, the hosts did not let up and only a near fluke three pointer from the halfway line by Antony Hasse at the death deprived them of a 50-point win after Sullivan Phillips had put up the half century with a two-handed dunk moments before.

There was no trace of complacency throughout and Bears, for whom Rico Alderson hit 27 points, opened up a 42-point advantage at 96-54 at the end of the third period.

Bullets, who never threw in the towel, had Trey Moore foul out with six and a half minutes left and Jason Siemon took Bears into a 51-point lead with a one-handed dunk on the move.

Andrew Alleyne earlier put Bears on their way to a comprehensive win with the opening basket and his side were never headed as they established an early 27-11 advantage.

Bullets, whose only success in all competitions came against Leicester last month, displayed some grit to trim the deficit to ten points at one stage.

Bears scorers: Alderson 27, Warren 19, Brown 18, Williams 16, Siemon 13, Frederick 11, Alleyne 10, Phillips 9.

Bullets scorers: Rutledge 22, Griffin 14, Moore 13, Nisbet 8, Craven 7, Paternostro 5, Barnes, 5, Hasse 4, Williams 2.