Playing in Nunawading on Sunday, the Braves were unable to back-up their 96-85 home win on Saturday against the Albury-Wodonga Brandits, crashing to a 90-79 defeat to the Spectres.

The Braves found themselves down by three points at quarter time and six points at half time and were still in the hunt after an even third term in which both teams tipped in 18 points.

But the Spectres, who also played on Saturday night against the Kilsyth Cobras, finished full of running to defeat the Braves by 11 points.

Nunawading got big games from Simon Conn (28 points, 12 rebounds), Thomas Wright (21 points) and Dain Swetalla (13 points, 16 rebounds).

Import C.J. Aiken led the Braves with 25 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.

The American averaged 24.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for the weekend.

Fellow import Dyami Starks scored 19 points and averaged 23.5 points across the weekend.

Point guard Adam Doyle added 22 points for the Braves, who face another double header next week against the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Bendigo on Friday night and the Ballarat Miners on the road on Saturday.

Chris Hogan returned for the Braves, who were still without his co-captain Taylor Bell.

Meanwhile, the Bendigo Lady Braves have suffered their first defeat in four games this season, also against Nunwading.

A third quarter in which they were outscored 21-11 proved telling against the Lady Braves who lost by one point to the Spectres 60-59.

The loss came on the back of an impressive 73-48 win over Albury-Wodonga on Saturday night at Bendigo Stadium, highighted by a 16-point game from Carlie Smith.

Fellow recruit Chloe Bibby impressed against the Spectres with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two steals, with Smith next best on 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Lady Braves were without guard Bianca Dufelmeier in Saturday night's game against Albury-Wodonga.

Coach Jonathon Goodman’s team also has a double header next weekend against the Centre of Excellence and Ballarat Rush.