The Gold Coast Blaze have pulled off a stunning eight-point win in overtime to defeat the Melbourne 99-91 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Saturday night and severely damage the Tigers' hopes of playoffs action.
With just three seconds on the clock in the fourth, Tigers guard Mark Worthington sent the game into overtime when he nailed a massive three from way outside the arc.
But with the home crowd willing them on, the Blaze took control courtesy of Erron Maxey who seemed to be involved in every play of overtime netting seven points to top score for Gold Coast with 19 points.
Julius Hodge troubled the Blaze all night top scoring for the Tigers with 26 points, Worthington provided the support with 24 points but a combined scoring effort by Gold Coast cancelled out the individual Melbourne performances.
Six players hit double figures for the Blaze and with so many contributors Melbourne couldn't decide who to contain.
Defence was a priority for Gold Coast and the Tigers went to the line six times during the first and it showed with the visitors leading 24-19 at the first break.
Coming out for the second the Tigers continued to call the shots but Maxey started to influence the boards and the Blaze were able to stay in touch.
Greg Vanderjagt (six points) grabbed two late to level the score at 43 a piece but Tom Greer (12 points) hit a three on the buzzer to send the Tigers into the major break three ahead.
Hodge was a standout for Melbourne nailing eight in the second quarter, Tyson Demos (five points) tried to keep an eye on the dangerous guard but fouls hurt the Blaze with seven personals coming by half-time.
The Blaze looked hungry as they emerged for the third and when Adam Gibson (15 points) laid up for two straight away and Harvey went to the line, the Blaze were up by one with the scores 47-46.
Both sides went basket-for-basket until Anthony Petrie (five points) played in Craig Bradshaw (10 points) who made a huge dunk on the glass to hand the Blaze back the lead with five minutes left on the clock.
Gold Coast had their biggest lead of the match when Chris Goulding (12 points) went on the fast break to put the Blaze 57-54 in front with two minutes left, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Goulding stood out in the final minutes hitting the Blaze's last six points and it looked as if the home side would go into the fourth with the lead until Hodge hit net with just seconds remaining and the Tigers went into the final term up 64-63.
Tense and frantic, the final quarter saw both sides trade baskets.
With two minutes left the Blaze trailed by four, but Maxey made a huge play drawing the foul and hitting the basket to make a crucial three-point play.
As time ticked down, Demos fired in a massive three to put the Blaze up by two with 50 seconds on the clock.
Ten seconds later Hodge was called for a travel giving possession to the Blaze.
Eating up the time Demos got sent to the line for two with 13 seconds remaining. He missed the first but sliced the second to give the Blaze a three-point lead.
But with three seconds on the clock Worthington - way outside the arc - nailed the biggest shot of the night, hitting a huge three to send the game into overtime with the scores locked at 87-87.
With the crowd cheering every basket in overtime, Maxey took control and gave the Blaze the lead (92-91) when he went to the line with two minutes left on the clock making the three-point play.
With 30 seconds left the ball went out of play with Gold Coast in possession and 24 on the shot clock.
James Harvey (15 points) then went to the line for two nailing the first and the second to give the Blaze an unassailable seven-point lead.
Demos rounded out the overtime period with 12 seconds on the clock, going to the line and putting in the first with the Blaze winning by eight 99-91.
The Blaze (14-10) take on the Perth Wildcats at home next week and with Saturday night's hard-fought victory, Gold Coast is sure to go into the match full of confidence knowing that a win could see it go just one game away from taking out top spot.
Gold Coast Blaze 99 OT (Maxey 19,Gibson 15, Harvey 15)
Melbourne Tigers 91 (Hodge 26,Worthington 24, Greer 12 )
@ Gold Coast Convention Centre 30/1/2010. Crowd: 4,020
