WORCESTER Wolves’ poor run of form continued with a disappointing 80-72 defeat last night at London Lions in the British Basketball League.

The match swung one way and the other before Lions edged home to sentence Wolves to a third defeat in just five days.

A triple from Jay Couisnard levelled matters at 68-68 with seven minutes remaining but Wolves could not kick on.

Couisnard and Perris Blackwell tallied 21 point for Wolves, who remain third in the table but with a growing pack of clubs snapping at their heels.

Head coach Paul James was again unhappy with his team’s performance.

James conceded: "It was a winnable game that we let pass us by. They (Lions) shot well from the outside and we struggled to get any consistent production.”

Wolves host Manchester Giants at the University of Worcester Arena on Friday (7.30pm), after which there will be a fortnight’s break until they travel to Leeds Force for a re-arranged fixture on Friday, March 4.

“We have to put the last couple of weeks behind us and put things right on Friday,” admitted James.

Lions frequently threatened to draw away from their visitors, only for Wolves to keep closing the gap.

However, just three baskets from the field in the last quarter was the final undoing for Worcester.

Former Wolves favourite Alex Owumi began proceedings with a three-pointer and notched a couple more to help his side to an early 20-7 lead.

A 14-2 run, including 11 points for Blackwell, reduced the deficit to 22-21 by the end of the first period.

The second quarter was a similarly tight affair, with another ex-Worcester man impressing. Kai Williams rattled in a tidy 11 second-quarter points to maintain a slender 43-41 Lions' advantage.

Wolves needed to dig themselves out of another hole soon after the half-time interval, falling 60-51 behind. Further close-to-the-basket successes for Blackwell once more drew the teams closer at 63-61.

Couisnard's triple levelled the match at 68-68. But a sprinkling of free throws were all that Worcester could muster over the remainder of the evening as Lions took the plaudits.