In an enticing top-of-the-table battle, the Flyers (5-0) inflicted a second straight loss on Manchester Magic (3-2) but needed overtime to secure a 69-67 win in the North West.
Corey Hill sealed the win with a basket inside with 10 seconds left as he led Bristol with 29 points on 46% shooting. Dan Davies had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Magic.
Closing the gap in the North are Leicester Warriors (4-1), who ousted basement side Cardiff Met Archers (0-4) 92-84 in the Welsh capital.
For the second straight game, Malik Legania fronted the Warriors attack, as he put up 22 points, cancelling out Dan Flaherty’s game-high 28 for the Archers.
Encon Derbyshire Arrows (3-2) kept their hold of third place though thanks to an 87-71 road win over Bristol Basketball United (1-2).
A strong start by the Teesside Lions (2-1) lifted them to an 86-64 win over Liverpool (1-4) in the North East.
A 25-9 first quarter set the tone for the Lions and they never looked back as Brenden Patrick led the way with 18 points, supported by 17 from Jamie Glen.
In the South, with unbeaten Barking Abbey not in action this weekend, it was up to Richmond Knights (4-1) to close the gap, which they duly did, beating Westminster Warriors (1-3) 91-78.
Gonzalo Rodriguez amassed 18 points to spearhead the Knights attack with Justin Hitchman leading the Warriors with 17.
NASSA (3-1) remain in the top half of the standings in the early stages of the season as they came from behind to topple Cobham Scorchers (1-4) 85-78.
Trailing by 12 points at the half, NASSA were struggling to execute. However, slowly they chipped away at the deficit before racing away in the final period to secure the win.
Drey Brown’s game-high 23 points was enough for Barnet Bulldogs (1-2) to pull out a narrow 84-81 win over winless Essex Rebels II (0-5) and London Elite (1-2) brushed aside Endeavour Ipswich (0-3) 92-69.
Plymouth Marjon Patriots (2-1) handed MK Breakers (2-1) their first loss of the season, as a game-high 21 points from Alicia Parsons was enough for a 63-57 win on the South West. Sascha Thompson responded with 13 for the Breakers, but it was in vain.
It was a mixed weekend for the teams from the capital in WNBL2, as the East London Phoenix (3-0) routed the Stevenage Royals (0-3) 67-31 and London All-Stars (3-0) saw-off Team Solent Kestrels 64-46 behind 22 points from Josephine Maignomo.
There was also a first win of the season for London Elite (1-2), who got the better of Hemel Storm (2-1) 80-63 on the road, but a clean sweep for the London teams was cut short as Ipswich II (2-1) edged London Thunder (0-4) 51-49, thanks to a 21-8 fourth quarter ambush from the Suffolk side.
Bromsgrove Bears (2-1) handed City of Birmingham Rockets (2-1) their first loss of the season on Saturday as a 20-8 first quarter led to a 79-65 success. Rebecca Bridley exploded for 31 points for the Bears.
Cardiff City beat Nottingham University Wildcats 91-73 on the road.
Cardiff Met Archers 84-92 Leicester Warriors LIVE STATS
Bristol Basketball United (BBU) 71-87 Encon Derbyshire Arrows LIVE STATS
Manchester Magic 67-69 Bristol Academy Flyers II LIVE STATS
Teesside Lions 86-64 Liverpool LIVE STATS
NASSA 85-78 Cobham Scorchers LIVE STATS
Barnet Bulldogs 84-81 Essex Rebels II LIVE STATS
Endeavour Ipswich BC 69-92 London Elite LIVE STATS
Richmond Knights 91-78 Westminster Warriors LIVE STATS
Plymouth Marjon Patriot Women 63-57 Milton Keynes Breakers
East London Phoenix 67-31 Stevenage Royals
Hemel Storm 63-80 London Elite
London Thunder 49-51 Endeavour Ipswich II
Bromsgrove Bears 79-65 City of Birmingham Rockets
Team Solent Kestrels 46-64 London All-Stars
Nottingham Trent Hoods 86-77 Northamptonshire Titans
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