READING Rockets moved on to the next round of the NBL National Cup after a solid 101-78 victory against fellow unbeaten Division One side City of Birmingham.
They raced out of the blocks to take control of the fourth-round contest, turning a 59-45 half-time lead into a comfortable win.
Christian Alexander began as he does nearly all games with an inside score coupled to four penalty points from the free throw line before Elijah Maynard hit a brace of back-to-back trebles.
When Zack Powell scored with a slam dunk, Birmingham called a time-out after a Rockets 11-0 run.
Reading extended their lead to 15 points as captain Lewis Champion stroked the first of his four trebles and Powell scored with a jump shot.
The home supporters gave a warm welcome to returning guard Jermiah ‘Flip’ Jenkins and he showed his value to Reading as he converted a pair of free throws and saw the hosts with a 29-22 opening quarter advantage.
The second period almost mirrored the first as Reading took it by 30-23, extending their lead at the interval to 59-45 thanks mainly to some stout defence that kept Birmingham adrift by double digits throughout.
Former Reading player Sam Toluwase top scored for the City men at the break with 16 points, but Rockets had kept the rest of his team under lock and key.
When the improving American Elijah Maynard stroked a treble to open the third-quarter score, Alexander spun and finished inside before Maynard made a three-point play, leaving his side ahead by 22 points at 67-45 at the end of a 15-0 run.
Birmingham responded with a 10-2 run, but Powell shone brightly in the last minutes before the final period with a jump shot, an offensive rebound finish and a three-point play giving the hosts a 76-59 advantage as the fourth quarter beckoned.
The Midlanders hit five unanswered points before Champion stroked three trebles interrupted only by him taking a brace of charges too. Finleigh Porter finished some exquisite plays as Rockets eased their way to a 25-19 final quarter and a place in the fifth round, where they will have home advantage on December 3 against opponents yet to be decided.
Top scorers for Rockets were Powell with 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Maynard hit 18 points, Porter 15, Champion 13 and Alexander 12.
Rockets are away to Nottingham Hoods this Saturday, looking to make it four league wins in a row.
In the Women's National Cup, last season's finalists Reading saw off fellow Division 1 outfit Bristol Academy Flyers 65-57, thanks to 16 points from Parfaite Ando