Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Melbourne United have returned to the winners’ circle and opened their NBL Ignite Cup campaign by overcoming a late scare to defeat the Adelaide 36ers 96-91.
United (2-3) had led by 20, and were still ahead by six points inside the last five minutes before a sellout crowd of 10,047 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night, before the Sixers went on a 13-2 tear to suddenly slash the margin to 88-85.
Star import Cole Anthony (24 points) responded with a clutch three-pointer and three free throws to guide United to safety.
Luke Travers and Josh Oduro added 16 points each for Melbourne.
“I loved our intent and urgency for the first three quarters,” United coach Jacob Chance said.
“We put ourselves in a really commanding position.”
Bryce Cotton and Nick Rakocevic scored 33 points apiece, but the pair too often lacked support as the Sixers (2-4), runners-up last season, crashed to second-bottom spot on the ladder with their third straight loss.
Adelaide’s spluttering offensive sets looked clunky and labour-intensive from the opening tip, while their defence was picked apart with relative ease by the visitors.
Rakocevic continued his hot form with eight points inside the first four minutes and the 36ers briefly drew level at 18-all.
But United ripped away control, ending the term on a 13-3 run to move ahead 31-21 when Ingles scored on the quarter-time bell.
Sixers coach Trevor Gleeson’s frustrations boiled over when he was whistled for a technical foul, with Melbourne’s advantage blowing out to 56-38 at halftime.
Adelaide’s deficit was still a formidable 76-59 at three-quarter time, before they rallied to the finish line.
Cotton drained a pair of threes, Zylan Cheatham soared for back-to-back dunks – his first scores of the game – and Rakocevic added a slam of his own in the best game of his career, but the rearguard arrived too late.
“If we don’t work hard enough, we haven’t got a shot of winning,” Gleeson said.
“We got outworked at home.
“The result will take care of itself if your work ethic is up.
“Our work ethic wasn’t good for four quarters.”
