The hot-shooting Bayi Rockets stamped their authority over title challengers Shanghai Sharks 114- 104 in a sixth-round match at the Chinese Basketball Association ( CBA) league in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Sunday.

Tagged as one of the most promising title contenders, Shanghai had the least help from their team star Cheng Chih-lung, the Most Valuable Player from the Chinese Taipei league, who failed to shrug off his pace-follower Chen Ke of Bayi and finished with only 6 points and 38 minutes.

Cheng, who joined Shanghai this season due to the lockout of the league in Chinese Taipei, scored only six points from six shots in the field.

"We played a defensive game and Chen Ke was the best on the position," Bayi head coach Zhang Bin said. "We forced them to make turnovers and miss shots while our players shot the ball very well tonight."

Bayi shot 54 percent in the field and 43 percent behind the arc with the 2.16-meter pivot Wang Zhizhi even sank two three-pointers on two attempts.

Forwards Liu Yudong and Li Nan scored 29 points apiece while Wang added 26.

"Turnovers costed us the game," said Li Qiuping, Shanghai's head coach. "We had more to learn from the experienced Bayi. We did not understand how to play with the body and the composure."

American importer Michael Jones led Shanghai with 22 points and Zhang Wenqi and another American center Montreal Dobbins each added 20.

Bayi Rockets leads the 12-team league with 11 points from five wins and one loss, following by.

Another game in Zhejiang saw the home team Zhejiang Cyclone upset Vanguard Aoshen 100-92 in the capital of Nanjing.

American guard Jason Woodard drilled in 34 points to lead Zhejiang, which had five players in double-digit figures.

"Aoshen is a fast team but we managed to slow down their paces, " said Zhang Dewei, Zhejiang's head coach. "In defense, we held on the positions to leave little room to their shooters."

Aoshen's forward Ma Jian and center Levon Ellis contributed 21 each as they shot 5-22 outside the defense.

Beijing Ducks held consecutive home wins, but they almost squandered a 22-point lead to beat Shandong Flaming Bulls 78-70 in Beijing.

Stunning the league with a victory over the defending champions Bayi, Beijing scored just five points in the fourth quarter, the lowest points scoring in one quarter in the league.

In Sunday's other matches, Jilin Northeast Tigers lost to Guangdong Tigers 115-106, Nanjing Army defeated Hubei Meierya 113- 100 and Liaoning Hunters cracked down Jiangsu Dragons 102-87 on the road. (Xinhua)