Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Sam Mennenga had a chance to steal it for the New Zealand Breakers on the buzzer but the Tasmania JackJumpers had a degree of control all evening in a 79-77 win that returned them to top spot.
The JackJumpers were back for a second game of the season at Launceston’s Silverdome, where they had won just twice in 11 attempts over their history.
Tasmania then opened an 11-point lead by early in the second quarter but New Zealand – inspired by Sam Mennenga and Carlin Davison – finished the first half on fire.
The Breakers closed with an 11-0 run with scores level going into halftime, with Davison having eight assists with Parker Jackson-Cartwright not his usual self.
Mennenga had 20 points and seven rebounds with fellow big man Charles Bediako out after an early heavy fall.
The JackJumpers responded with the first seven points of the third quarter and remained on top the rest of the way, but the Breakers cut it all the way back to two with one possession to go.
Mennenga had a monster night but turned down a game-winning three-point attempt, opting for a long two to tie it up. It didn’t go, and the JackJumpers improved to 8-3 and moved ahead of the Sydney Kings in first place.
Dakota Mathias top scored for the JackJumpers, with 18 points including four three-pointers.
Captain Will Magnay had 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three blocks, front court partner Josh Bannan 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and Taran Armstrong 10 points, four boards and four assists.
New Zealand have now lost five straight to be 4-8 and had to do it without starting point guard Jackson-Cartwright and centre Bediako for most of the night.
Mennenga continued his dominant form with 29 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two blocks on 13-of-19 shooting.
Davison did well again running the point with nine assists to go with six points, five rebounds and two steals, with Kouat Noi rediscovering some form with nine points and three boards.
