Sullivan Phillips played a key role in an historic win for the Brighton Bears.

The Bermudian basketball star scored 12 points and "oozed confidence" in the Bears' 85-91 victory over former European champions Croatia Split in the UELB Cup ? the sport's equivalent of the European Cup.

The triumph earlier this week represented Brighton's first competitive win on foreign soil and Phillips was a major player on the night.

His tally for the night included two free throws which gave his side an 87-82 lead and allowed them some breathing space down the home stretch.

The victory was not enough to lift the Bears off the bottom of Group F but it is being widely regarded as most notable result in their history.

Brian Owen, sports writer for the , described Phillips as "the quiet man of the party off the court" but said he "oozed confidence with the ball in his hands".

While praising the whole team, Brighton coach, Nick Nurse, also singled out the Bermudian who he said "looked a class above how he has been playing".

"It is pretty cool to go to a three-time former European champion and win and I am glad we did it," he said, adding: "I really have to give a lot of credit to Mike Brown and Sullivan Phillips, who had to run the point between them with Randy Duck in foul trouble."

Today, the Bears go to Thames Valley looking to clinch a place in the last four of the British Basketball League Trophy.