Brighton Bears' British League title hopes are hanging by a thread after they were humbled on their own court by a Sheffield Sharks side looking every inch champions.

A nightmare second half saw Nick Nurse's men outscored by 21 points, outrebounded and comprehensively outplayed as they crashed 89-76 in their summit meeting at the Brighton Centre last night.

There could still be a glimmer of hope after Bears hit the last seven points of the contest which means victory by any margin in the return at Ponds Forge a week on Sunday can still put them back on title course.

Not that there is any way of that happening without a vast improvement on last night's efforts.

Coach Nurse admitted: "The players should feel embarrassed after that. Sheffield deserved to win. We just had a disaster out there.

"We didn't match their intensity, effort or anything and I can't understand how that happens in a game like that."

Defensive intensity was certainly key to Sharks' success. They knew exactly what they could get away with blocking the inside path to the hoop and Bears hit just one of nine three-point attempts in the second half as they looked for another route.

Nurse added: "It's amazing how they could do that without fouling, how they can grab and hold and press and never commit a foul."

This was the game British basketball fans had been waiting weeks for but they had to wait a bit longer when the Sharks were delayed in traffic on the M1.

Tip-off was delayed by one-and-a-quarter hours to 8.15pm, though curiously Sheffield's supporters had managed to get to the venue in time for the scheduled start.

Three visiting fans took on a trio of their Brighton counterparts on court to entertain the crowd, with the home team at least winning that one.

Sheffield finally arrived at the venue at 7.50pm and were given a short time in which to warm up.

Bears fans were relieved to see Ralph Blalock back in uniform, though he had his left calf muscle strapped, was on the bench at the start and made a negligible contribution.

When the game did get under way Bears' start could not have been more explosive.

Sterling Davis and Randy Duck both hit three-pointers in the first minute to send them towards an early 10-0 lead.

Sheffield had just two Rob Yanders free-throws to show for their first six possessions as Bears opened a 14-2 gap.

Jerry Williams replied with two threes but Rico Alderson responded in kind.

He also grabbed his side's last five points of the quarter as Bears reached the first break with a 26-23 advantage.

Alderson was in characteristically unpredictable mood.

He missed two free-throws early in the second quarter, then came up with a fantastic spin move to take him through the heart of the Sheffield defence for two points as the teams traded 7-0 runs.

Sheffield kept getting back within two points but never levelled before half time.

Davis hit four successive free throws as Bears ended the period with an 8-2 flourish to lead 46-38 at the half.

The opening 20 minutes had more than lived up to expectations.

Wilbur Johnson and Alderson had given Bears a 25-22 advantage off the back boards while Davis led all scorers with 15 points.

Ominously, Sheffield needed just 46 seconds of the third quarter to draw level, helped by a Williams three and Nate Reinking's and-one.

They also put Bears in early foul trouble in the quarter.

Sheffield had their first lead when Yanders drove to the hoop to make it 51-50 with 6:15 to play in the period.

That became 67-63 at the last break, despite an Alderson three.

Sharks though ended the contest with a 17-4 opening to the fourth quarter and led 89-69 inside the last three minutes.

Williams, who hit four of six from outside the arc was their star man and admitted: "I can smell the title now".

Duck never stopped battling and top scored for Bears while Alderson had a game-high ten rebounds but even a victory at home to hapless Leicester tonight (7pm) will not ease the pain of this stunning defeat.

Bears: Duck 20, Daivs 17, Alderson 17, Johnson 12, Brown 8, Blalock 2.

Sheffield: Williams 24, Yanders 18, Phoenix 15, Reinking 10, Payne 8, Stewart 8, Scantlebury 5, McKinney 1.