Brighton Bears were dumped out of the National Cup at the first round stage as Chester Jets pulled off a comfortable 90-74 victory at the Northgate Arena last night.

Nick Nurse's men went into the clash boosted by two successive victories, but this was a tough draw.

Jets, runners-up in the Northern Conference last season when they also won the BBL Trophy, only began to impose themselves after the interval when they led by a single point at 37-36.

Robbie Peers' side began the third quarter with a 11-4 run, and Pero Cameron hit three three-pointers in this period as the hosts went into the final ten minutes 67-59 in front.

There was no way back after Chester went on an 18-8 tear at the start of the final quarter and John McCord, leading scorer in the BBL last season, helped take his team to a straightforward win with a haul of 22 points.

It gets no easier for Bears as this weekend they face the toughest possible double header with games against Sheffield and London Towers - respective winners of both the Northern and Southern Conference.

But Nurse is convinced his men can gain at least one win. He said: "We've got the cream of the crop coming at us and now we are going to see what we're made of."

Jet leading scorers: McCord 22, Thomas 18, Davis 17.

Bears leading scorers: White 17, Davis 17, Duck 14.