A KNIFE-EDGED ONE!

Moore missed one for a 92-91 lead, Gayle another for a 93-92 advantage with 48 seconds left.

Even then, after Gayle fouled Jan-Michael Nation at 92-93, and the slow reaction of the scoring table revealed Thunder were already in the four team fouls penalty, Teesside's second American missed one of his pair to offer Thunder a final chance.

But Danny Hildreth missed a three-pointer and, although Moore rebounded, David Butterworth's outside shot bounced back out.

Either team deserved to win '” Thunder because of their superior rebounding and their edge in team play; Mohawks because of their steadiness and resilience amid the mounting tension, and the control and nous exerted by Jackson.

The 34-year-old American veteran stalwart hit five of 10 three-pointers, missed only two double-pointers in his top-scoring 20 points, and twice he took charge to turn the game after Thunder had jumped into a five-point lead early in the final quarter.

After Hildreth threw a pass to Teon Knox too long at 80-75, Jackson struck a three, then a two to make it 82-80 after Michael Gayle had intercepted and netted from Thunder's restarting pass.

Then at 86-84, Jackson gave Teesside a five-point lead when he spotted the chance to take on Moore one-on-one. In a shock move to the basket, he laid-in on the reverse, drew the foul and netted the free shot.

That Thunder still pulled back to within a point after two previous startlingly heavy defeats, was a step forward. But Teesside snatched only their third Leisure Centre success in eight attempts while Thunder fans wondered why coach Gary Smith employed guard Sam Mead for just two minutes, despite his hitting a personal high by draining a face-saving, deep, buzzer-beating three to take Thunder into the interval at 51-52.

And key signing, 6ft 9in centre Pat Bates, stayed on the bench 30 minutes when his presence could have tipped the height-advantage scales Thunder's way.

Instead, behind big games from Moore and Knox, after Okolie Ugbana fouled out in the third quarter after only 11 minutes on court, the main support came from guard Steven Gayle.

Moore had 19 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Knox had 27 points, eight boards, a steal and two blocks. Gayle scored 21 points, had 10 rebounds at 5ft 10in, made three steals and dished three assists.