BASKETBALL:BELFAST STAR created another upset in the latest series of the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague after completing a miserable week for 11890 Killester. The Ulster side managed to emerge from Clontarf with a 75-67 success to re-ignite their play-off hopes and inflict a second defeat on Killester in the space of a week.

Reigning league champions Killester brought a record of 10 consecutive league wins into 2011 but have now been on the receiving end of back-to-back losses to DCU Saints and Belfast Star respectively. “It’s hard enough to beat them in Belfast, so to get a win down here is fantastic,” said Star head coach Danny Fulton. “We hung in there at all times, they were leading going into the final quarter but we stayed with them.

“This win is important in terms of the play-offs and it was fantastic to match DCU’s win over Killester, who are one of the sides we are trying to catch.”

DCU Saints almost caused another surprise but a late rally saw UL Eagles take the points courtesy of a slender 80-78 win.

The Saints led by 11 points on three separate occasions but couldn’t shake off the Southern Conference leaders. DCU led by seven with seven minutes to go but UL, with Scott Kinevane, who scored eight of UL’s last 10 points, stepping up to grab control of the contest.

UCD Marian head coach Fran Ryan was pleased his side maintained their play-off hopes with a 94-72 over Ulster Elks, the side they face in the National Cup semi- final on Sunday.

“We want to secure a quarter- final place in the play-offs and winning was terribly important in terms of that,” said Ryan. “We managed to shoot the ball very well and we were more patient.”

UL made it back-to-back wins over DCU Mercy following a 61-57 success in another dramatic encounter between the two sides.

The Limerick side have got their league title hopes back on track after consecutive wins over fellow title challengers DCU.