Chris Goulding and Marcus Lee combined for 45 points as Melbourne United beat the Tasmania JackJumpers 85-79 in Hobart in Saturday night.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe win snapped Tasmania’s three game home winning streak, and moved them to a 11-10 record, which dropped them two places to sixth on the NBL ladder.
It was a tight contest between the two sides, who both are in contention for post season action. But Melbourne’s ability to get to the foul line (31 attempts to 17) ultimately was the difference.
After multiple lead changes in the first half, the game was tied up at 44-all at halftime. But a 27-19 third quarter by Melbourne gave them a lead that the JackJumpers were unable to chase down.
“I thought they were just a little bit playing a little more of an edge than what we were most of the game and hustle plays and energy plays, ” JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said
“In the third quarter obviously they broke open there, which was enough to maintain the lead and put us on our backfoot. But again credit to them they played well.”
In the final quarter Milton Doyle looked to single-handedly drag Tasmania back into the contest. The JackJumpers leading scorer had been held to seven points in the first three quarter, mostly thanks to the defense Shea Illi’s. But Doyle lit up from all over the floor with 13 points of his teams 22 final quarter points, including a three pointer with 1:03 remaining that put them within 4 points.
However, Melbourne were able to soak up the JackJumpers defensive pressure, and points under the basket by Lee on an offensive rebound to ensure the win.
Supporting Milton Doyle was Jack McVeigh (18 points) and Will Magnay (10 points) who both were the main targets for the offense in the first half.
For United, Lee had his best game of the season with 20 points 11 rebounds and 4 assists. He was a constant threat inside the paint, and very much moving into the big man role that Ariel Hukporti provided last season.
While Goulding hot shooting late in the season continued as he knocked down 25 points. Including a number of tough outside shots as he finished 5/11 from three.
The loss moves Tasmania to 11-10 on the season and into 6th place. With only seven games remaining for for the team to lock in a top six finish.
“We’re onto the next game. Again you know the message is quite simple, we’ve got to win a few games or where not in the playoffs and we go home,” Roth said.
Foul shooting
Despite Tasmania winning having 13 more shots, they were on the other end of a lopsided foul shot count, Melbourne shooting 24-31 from the line to Tasmani’s 14-17. Post game Scott Roth and forward Jarred Bairstow singled it out as an issue for the team
“Our foul discipline is again a problem for us and when we get into the nubers that we got into, I think at the end of the third they had already shot 28 foul shots, again that’s a recipe for disaster for us to allow them get to the line that many times.” Roth said
“Foul discipline has been an issue with us all year in and out, and we pride ourselves of being up and in, and be physical and aggressive on the ball. But we’ve just got to do it in a smart way,” Bairstow said.
Defensive duo stay on the bench
After being cleared to play, both Sam McDaniel and Matt Kenyon did play in the game. Both players are returning from calf injuries that have kept them out since November. There was no comment post game about their absence, but already with a deep guard rotation, there was no risk in rushing them back in a high stakes match. It would be more likely to see them get another practice into them and return mid-week against Illawarra.
Next up
The JackJumpers (11-10) head to Illawarra (2-15) for a clash with the bottom of the table Hawks on Tuesday night.
