DERBY SYORM 106 - CONVERSE CRYSTAL PALACE 98.

It was a case of normal service resumed as Crystal Palace got back to losing ways at the weekend.

Palace were hoping to make it three straight wins on the spin for the first time since their return to the Budweiser League but even a gallant third quarter fightback could not wrestle the lead away from a Derby side intent on making it three wins out of four.

Runs of 11-2 and 9-2 had the home side coasting in the first quarter and they extended that lead to 19 hitting seven out of the opening nine points in the second.

Palace took a large chunk out of Derby's lead in the third period, thanks largely to American centre Brad Wedel, the visitors hit 10 without reply.

Palace's near perfect free-throw shooting - they missed just one in 30 - allowed them to close to 97-91 with just two minutes remaining. But Derby held their nerve to claim victory in a tense finish.

The result means Palace fail to leapfrog above Derby into 10th and remain in 11th, just two points behind them.

They will be hoping to make up for the setback when Derby travel to the National Sports Centre for the vital return fixture next Saturday (January 25).

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