THE Worcester Wolves tasted defeat for the first time this season as they were stunned by Bristol Hurricanes in their National Basketball League Division Two clash.

Handicapped by the absence of their stalwart big man Matei Balteanu, Wolves had no answer for an overpowering 15 point and 16 rebound performance from 6 foot 8 inch former Bristol Flyers centre Daniel Edozie in the 74-58 defeat.

A disastrous opening quarter put Worcester on the back foot for the rest of the evening.

A full eight minutes had elapsed and more than a dozen shots had missed the target before Jacob Solvason finally got the ball through the hoop for Wolves’ first success from the field.

In the meantime Bristol took advantage of a series of turnovers to race 19-4 ahead.

By midway through the second period Jacob Dearman sandwiched a steal with a double of scores but Hurricanes still maintained control at 37-16.

Consecutive Solvason three-pointers kept faint hope alive for the visitors as they trooped to the locker rooms looking up at a 49-27 half-time deficit.

The second half commenced in similar fashion to the first with Bristol repelling all attacks on their basket until six minutes had ticked by.

As the final quarter opened Hurricanes had stormed to a huge 69-38 lead.

With the victory now firmly in the bag the hosts took their eye off the ball enough to allow their visitors to give some respectability to the margin of defeat.