Worthing Thunder maintained their title challenge with an 80-77 victory over Islington White Heat.

But Neil McElduff's men had to dig deep to extend their long unbeaten record in Division One. Thunder trailed by 15 points at half-time before taking the lead for only the second time in the match with three minutes remaining. But in a dramatic finale, Islington captain Mike Redd saw a three-point shot bounce off the rim with four seconds left.

The game would have gone to overtime had the basket dropped, but instead the buzzer sounded and Magic were able to maintain their pursuit of leaders Teeside who have a four-point advantage over Thunder, having played a game more.

Thunder started slugglishly against a tenacious home side. Thunder were soon trailing by 14 points as a physical Islington outfit caused problems both offensively and defensively for the visitors.

Thunder's floor shooting percentage was poor and they were out-rebounded and fortunate to trail by just 15 at the break thanks to 12 points from Paul Mundy-Castle.

But Worthing tightened up their defensive act in the third quarter and a 12-2 run, inspired by Mundy-Castle and Peter Knetchel, edged them towards parity. Jamal Palmer's bucket made it 71-70 with three minutes left, but Knetchel's fall-away shot put the visitors in front.

Palmer extended the lead but poor shot selection enabled Islington to go into the last minute with a six point advantage. Sean Hampton's bucket reduced the gap to one, Knetchel sunk two from the free throw line and followed it with a steal and basket to establish an 80-77 lead.

But then Redd's three pointer rimmed out and Thunder had secured a precious victory over one of the league's most-improved teams.

Thunder: Hampton 25, Mundy-Castle 23, Knetchel 16, Palmer 11, Wright 4, Harriott 1.

Islington: Alexander 24, Redd 21, Batimba 17, Edwards 7, Mbye 7, White 5.

Thunder's title challenge resumes on Saturday at Coventry Crusaders (tip off 7.30pm).

Mid Sussex Magic surrendered a first-half advantage to go down 91-82 at home to Taunton Tigers.

Dwayne Martin, in his last game before a two-match suspension, inspired Magic to open up a nine point lead but Tigers levelled by half-time and were always in control after opening up a 68-57 lead midway through the second half.

Martin and Phil Waghorn scored with three-pointers in the last minute but it wasn't enough to alter the outcome. Tom Sewell top-scored for Magic with 37 points.

Magic: Sewell 37, Waghorn 13, Martin 12, Alexander 12, Sparrowhawk 8.

This Saturday Magic are away to Sutton Pumas, tip-off 7.30pm.

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