Bears failed to follow the script on their big day and it cost them a place in the BBL Trophy semi-final.

Nick Nurse's men went down for the fourth successive time to London Towers in yesterday's quarter-final at the Coventry Skydome and again it was a contest they could have won.

Coach Nurse's game plan was to take on Towers close to the basket. Instead they were drawn into a three point shoot out which they were always second favourites to win.

Terrell Myers and John White hit five long-rangers apiece while Brighton totalled just five of 27, including two out of 14 for topscorer Albert White.

Nurse could hardly believe what he had witnessed. He said: "The disappointing thing is that we had one emphasis on offence which was to attack the rim, which we did in the first half but for some reason did not in the second. Every timeout I said 'go to the basket' and we didn't do it so we deserved to lose.

"Of course they were playing zone defence and forcing us out but we just settled for shots. We should have been more patient and gone to the basket more.

"It's one Trophy loss, it's not the end of the world. We have been playing pretty well, we are in great shape and we've got a legitimate chance to win the Southern Conference.

"I still think we are a better team than they are but we've still got to prove it."

Bears guard Mike Brown was equally perplexed. He said: "I thought we had chances to win at the end but we didn't make shots and they did.

"Terrell and John White won them the game.

"Those two guys beat us every time we play them.

"It's disappointing as it's always a close game and we can't pull away or get back into it when they go in front."

That encouraging start saw Bears lead 21-20 at the end of a somewhat nervy first quarter in which Wilbur Johnson was the top performer close to the hoop.

While those around him settled, the experienced centre claimed nine points, including his side's only three-pointer, took defensive rebounds and produced the block on Eric Mann which allowed Albert White to send Randy Duck clear to edge Bears in front.

Both teams enjoyed three- point leads in the second quarter but that was as clear cut as it got until right at the end of the period, when Bears missed a simple put back and Towers broke away for Brett Eppeheimer to hit a three.

Rodger Farrington forced home his first points right on the buzzer and Bears changed ends 44-41 adrift.

John White opened the third with a three and, although Johnson hit back with four quick points, Myers had also found his range from outside and helped Towers extend the lead to eight.

Stuart Robbins almost ripped Sterling Davis' vest off his back as the Brighton man raced clear.

The intentional foul brought Bears three points but then Farrington's block on Robert Youngblood at the other end was deemed illegal and, as the arguments continued, the Towers man hit both from the line to make it 68-61 at the final interval.

The lead was out to nine in the final period.

But Albert White gave his side new hope with his only two successes from long range, which came within 30 seconds of each other.

Bears' fans, who were the noisiest and most colourful of the eight teams present, were on their feet as Duck converted a superb Brown pass and added the extra point to make it 81-78 with one minute 52 seconds left to play.

But John White replied with a crucial three under intense pressure from Albert White and Davis and Bears never got back within striking distance.

Brighton Bears scorers: A. White 25, Duck 20, Johnson 17, Davis 12, Brown 7, Farrington 2.

London Towers scorers: J. White 25, Myers 24, Allen 13, Eppeheimer 12, Youngblood 11, Mann 2, Robbins 2.

BBL Trophy quarter-finals results: Milton Keynes 68 Thames Valley 67, Chester Jets 91 Newcastle Eagles 87, Brighton 83 London Towers 89, Sheffield 78 London Leopards 83.