WORCESTER Wolves secured their fifth win on the bounce as they defeated Bristol Flyers to stay second in the British Basketball League.

Last month, the Flyers upset their University Arena hosts to progress to the semi-finals of the BBL Cup, led by a 32-point performance from Doug Herring.

This time, Herring was absent through injury but Flyers still had other players able to threaten another surprise.

Eighteen-year-old guard Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye caught the eye with an enthusiastic 18-point performance, but he was also supported by a trio of double-digit scorers.

By contrast, it was left to the experienced hands of captain Alex Owumi and Chavis Holmes to contribute two-thirds of Wolves’ points, scoring 24 and 25 respectively.

As has so often been the case this season, Worcester struggled to settle into an early rhythm. Only Holmes and Robert Thurman were able to score points from the field during the opening quarter as their side limped to a 17-12 deficit.

It was a couple of minutes into the second period before Wolves dragged back the arrears, drawing level at 19-19 after Owumi began a run of four first-half three-pointers.

A 23-8 tear over the remainder of the half took Wolves clear at 42-27.

A Thurman sky-hook and a lay-in from Holmes stretched the lead to 48-29, before a spell of ill-discipline brought Bristol back into the match.

Thurman was awarded a technical foul for comments made to the referees and forward Jamal Williams was retired to the bench after carelessly picking up his fourth and fifth offences within 10 seconds of each other.

In the final minute of the third quarter Remi Dibo excited home fans with a three-pointer to bring up a 60-42 advantage but then blotted his copybook by following Thurman’s example of disputing officials’ decisions.

After being penalised for successive fouls, Dibo was unable to suppress his disagreement, having to be escorted off the court and back to the locker rooms.

A series of free-throws and an outrageous buzzer-beater from Lautier-Ogunleye pulled matters back to 60-49.

Lautier-Ogunleye sank another triple as the last period began and, with three minutes remaining at 70-63, the outcome was still not settled.

However, the calm leadership of Holmes finally decided matters with a burst of steals and clever assists for Thurman to convert into points.