WORCESTER Wolves kept the heat on British League table-toppers Newcastle Eagles with a 95-90 victory at Plymouth Raiders.

Wolves’ third win in a row ensured they stayed second in the table, four points behind the leaders ahead of their meeting with Newcastle at the University Arena on Friday.

Victory in Devon, in which Jamal Williams scored 21 points against his former team, also saw captain Alex Owumi become Wolves’ all-time leading points scorer.

The returning Robert Thurman, Chavis Holmes and recent addition Paul Guede all produced impressive performances.

Thurman registered 14 points and nine rebounds, Holmes totalled 19 points and nine boards, while Guede’s scored 17 points and eight rebounds.

Head coach Paul James said: “Jamal was superb and is revelling in playing major minutes.

“With four other guys scoring in double-figures, we had a great balance.

“Plymouth got hot at the start and again in the third quarter, but we kept our composure and shut them down.”

By the close of the first-half Wolves had established a nine-point lead and looked in control. Towards the close of the third quarter they had fallen behind at 68-61 but, as the final period progressed, Worcester once more stepped on the gas to overtake their hosts with one-time Plymouth forward Williams particularly impressing against his former employers.

The opening quarter was notable for an explosion of three-pointers from Raiders. Pierre Hampton connected twice, while their latest signing, Great Britain guard Ben Mockford, was on target three times.

Wolves centre Thurman returned to the court for the first time after sitting out three matches with an ankle injury and made an immediate impact for Worcester when jamming home a Remi Dibo miss.

It was Thurman who moved Wolves ahead at 30-29 as the second period began and with four minutes remaining until the interval, a couple of baskets from point guard Holmes ignited a 14-4 burst to close the half at 51-42.

Williams increased the Wolves advantage to 11 points straight after the restart, but Plymouth once again found their range from distance to roar back into the contest.

Josh Wilcher started the run, followed by his back-court partner Brent Benson. Mockford showed continuing accuracy to sink another trio of triples, with Hampton icing the comeback.

With eight minutes of the contest left, the teams were tied at 71-71. A Thurman finger-roll nudged Worcester in front before Benson replied.

The sides were finally broken apart at 84-75 following a double of scores from Wolves’ reserve guard Disraeli Lufadeju.

Plymouth slowed the match towards the end by repeatedly sending their visitors to the free-throw line, but were by then unable to replicate their earlier shooting success.