ROCKETS again came close to defeating last season&apos;s National Conference and Trophy champions at Rivermead on Sunday.
But, after producing their best basketball of the season in the third quarter, they saw their hopes of victory disappear when skipper Ted Smith fouled out in the final period.
Head coach Matt Johnson was disappointed and said: "We seemed to freeze in the last quarter and were punished accordingly."
Rockets went into the game on the back of a fine 79-70 win at Hackney White Heat the previous day.
But it was Teesside who had the better of the first quarter and took an early 11-4 lead.
After some good work by John Hodds, Rockets gave away valuable possession which their opponents inevitably turned into points.
The opening exchanges were at lightning pace and had it not been for some determined defence, the leadership of Smith and the shooting skills of Jermaine Williams, Rockets&apos; first quarter deficit could have been much greater.
However, at 25-17 down they were still in the game.
Rockets started the second quarter well with some incisive moves and crisp passing that enabled Williams to add to his tally.
Smith, Hodds and Pem Bristol all had to be at their best as the unrelenting Teesside offense strove to break Rockets&apos; spirit.
Coach Johnson took a time out at 37-28 down and five minutes remaining and Rockets came back on court revitalised with Smith, Hodds and Lloyd Gardner scoring quickly and Williams producing an inspirational block.
This, together with some tough defence, enabled Rockets to narrow the gap to just three points at 44-41 going in at half time.
Williams scored right from the tip-off in the third quarter and immediately Bristol, having regained possession thanks to some brilliant defending, drove to the basket only to be fouled.
Bristol, though, held his nerve to make both shots from the line.
Hodds then scored four points in quick succession as Rockets took the lead for the first time.
Bristol made a great rebound to score two more and Williams, with his silky-smooth shooting, made two jump shots to put Rockets 57-48 ahead.
After a marvellous period of play of superb play by Rockets, a Teesside time out was not unexpected.
On the resumption Smith suffered from inconsistent refereeing when a blatant foul was not called.
Bristol, who was enjoying his best game of the season, made an amazing defensive block and seconds later made a controlled lay-up after a fast break.
Coach Johnson took a time out with Rockets seemingly in control at 59-48.
But Teesside are not easily rattled, seem unconcerned at falling behind and apparently have several gears to select - and in the last two minutes of the period they showed all these qualities.
Rockets, on team fouls and on the receiving end of some questionable refereeing, fought hard to stay ahead, and the home support was optimistic going into the final quarter with Rockets 67-60 ahead.
But disaster struck almost immediately for Rockets when Smith was fouled out and Teesside made three points from the line.
Rockets then squandered possession and Teesside captain Jason Swaine made a three-point score.
The away side then scored again without reply to regain the lead at 68-67.
Worse was to come as Teesside scored another three-pointer and Rockets ran out of time on their next possession, prompting a time out at 71-67 to Teesside.
On the restart Damon Cooper scored a superb three and Williams made an easy lay-up, before Cooper and Williams cut the deficit to two points.
Hodds, though, missed two from the line and Adam Kelly took a blatant charging foul, which was ignored by the referees.
Teesside rallied again and increased their lead to seven points.
Despite some determined play late on by Hodds, Williams and Cooper, the game got away from Rockets and Teesside again returned to the North East victorious.
Rockets top scorers: Williams 26, Hodds 20, Smith 16.