SOLENT STARS 70 (17, 36, 54) - READING ROCKETS 89 (23, 36, 66)

SOLENT STARS' three-match winning streak was halted 89-70 by Reading Rockets in front of their biggest crowd of the season at Fleming Park.

It proved a frustrating night for coach Alan Cunningham, who had to make his exit in the last quarter after picking up his second technical foul of the game.

Solent gave the ball away too cheaply in the opening stages of the English Basketball League Division 1 fixture, with Mark Jackson, Chris St Omer, Paul Silcox and Ollie Marsh all guilty of turnovers.

But just when Reading threatened to pull right away, Larry Parker's three-pointer narrowed the gap to six points, 23-17.

The omens did not look good when Solent again surrendered possession at the put-in at the start of the second quarter, and then Cunningham picked up his first technical foul when he felt Parker had been fouled on an attempt at basket.

But that burst of anger seemed to spur Stars on and the crowd came to life as Marlin Capers passed the 500-point mark for the season following a move with fellow American Parker.

With a Mark Jackson three-pointer supplementing the scoring of the Americans, Solent levelled at 30-30 before a couple of lapses of concentration allowed Reading to open a four-point gap.

Cunningham reverted to his starting five and the half ended all square at 36-36.

Solent were caught cold at the start of the third quarter and Reading opened an eight-point gap before baskets from Paul Silcox, Capers and Parker brought them back into the game at 51-47.

But in the last five minutes of the quarter Solent were outscored 15-7 by the National Cup winners.

The flashpoint of the evening came right at the start of the final quarter when Solent again gave the ball away at the put-in by delaying - in the referee's view - longer than five seconds.

For Cunningham it proved a call too far. Already frustrated by the fact that Reading had had just one first-half foul called against them, the seething Stars coach was called for a second technical, forcing him to leave the game.

Solent's frustration later boiled over again when Capers, feeling he had been fouled, also picked up a technical foul when no call was made by the referees.

Solent scorers: Larry Parker 32, Marlin Capers 20, Mark Jackson 8, Paul Silcox 4, Phil Long 4, Ollie Marsh 2.

Reading scorers: EJ Harrison 22, Steve Parillon 19, Richard Wellings 13, Errol Seaman 10, Ted Smith 8, James Cook 6, Lee McCarthy 5, Ross Carlton 4, Jamie Ashwin 2.

Solent Stars men's second string exacted sweet revenge on Westside to go top of the National Basketball League Division 3 East.

Still smarting from their 76-71 away loss early in the season, Mick Byrne's team ran out convincing 95-69 winners in the rematch.

Solent scorers: Milner 28, Freeland 13, Payne 17, McKay 14, Rumsey 10, Openshaw 6, Donaldson 5, Aung 2.

A 78-54 victory over Spelthorne Acers has moved Solent Stars' women into the top-four of the National Basketball League Division 1.

Solent scorers: Z Tarnai 25, L Gamman 15, M Tobar 9, C Brownsell 9, L Powell 9, L Cloke 9, K Syngellakis 2.