The Lazers, having parted company with American import Drelan Tripplett by mutual agreement just before Easter, were also without the injured Matt Hughes, Fletcher Swift and Rama Pattison.

Adding to their woes was the unavailability of sharpshooter Michael Cox and Austyn Lincoln, leaving the home side with only eight players to call upon.

The makeshift starting five of Michael Johnson, Adam Marjoram, Kobe Hunter, Hayden Cox and Caleb Fitzpatrick struggled from the tip-off and were quickly down 7-2.

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The Lazers soon found their groove however, with crisp passing and accurate mid- and long-range shooting putting them in front 16-11 and 19-13 deep into the opening quarter. Bankstown stiffened their defence though, and went to the first break up by one, 24-23.

The lead changed hands four times early in the second period, before the Bruins pulled away late to go to halftime in control with a 52-43 advantage.

Lithgow's poor third quarter starts continued, as Bankstown opened with five unanswered points to blow the margin out to fourteen at 57-43.

The Lazers slowly ate into the deficit, as bench players Mitchell Brain, Michael Brooks and Zeke Evans helped the home side get back within striking distance at the end of the period to be down only 66-61.

The Bruins hit three quick baskets in just over a minute to open the fourth stanza, pushing the score to 72-61 and leaving the locals staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat.

The home crowd got behind the Lazers as they narrowed the margin to four before successive three-pointers from Marjoram and Johnson saw them hit the lead 86-84 with just over a minute remaining. The visitor's old heads took charge from there, grabbing a couple of baskets and tacking on four free throws to escape with the win, 92-86.

One pleasing aspect of the loss for Coach Dave Swift was the manner in which the younger brigade stepped up, with Hayden Cox, Zeke Evans, Kobe Hunter and Mitchell Brain all having their most productive outings of the season so far.

Bankstown were best served by Jimmy Kien with 23 points, Brett Foster on 17, Andre Boykin 16 and former NBL player Stephen Whitehead with 13.

The Lazers are home again this Saturday (May 4) when they take on the Shoalhaven Tigers. Tip-off is at 4 pm.

Result: Bankstown Bruins 92 def Lithgow Lazers 86 (M Johnson 30, H Cox 15, A Marjoram 14, K Hunter 9, Z Evans 9, M Brain 4, M Brooks 3, C Fitzpatrick 2)

Pool A Standings: Sutherland 6 wins, 0 losses, Illawarra 4-1, Shoalhaven 5-2, Canberra 4-2, Bankstown 4-3, Queanbeyan 4-3, Lithgow 3-3, Wagga 1-5, Orange 1-6, Dubbo 0-7.