Edwards inspires United over JackJumpers

Jesse Edwards had a tantalising battle with Tasmania JackJumpers captain Will Magnay but was instrumental in Melbourne United's crucial 79-77 bounce back win at HoopsFest in Perth.

Edwards had nine early points for Melbourne but also two early fouls but only picked up one more the rest of the game and finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Melbourne's critical win after losing eight of their past 10 matches.

It keeps United in fourth place at 16-10 with Tasmania remaining sixth at 12-14 and now facing a nervous wait after Magnay hobbled off with a foot injury late after having 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Every time the two teams play it follows a familiar path with it physical, tight and generally low scoring, and even on neutral territory for HoopsFest in Perth for the second straight year it was no different.

There was plenty at stake for both teams too with Melbourne trying to arrest their slide and Tasmania to keep building momentum, and Melbourne went into quarter-time with the narrow 23-21 lead.

That was after a three on the buzzer from Tyson Walker before United pushed out to a nine-point lead in the second period after triples from Tanner Krebs, Kyle Bowen and Walker.

The JackJumpers responded going into half-time on a 13-5 run to be only down one and things remained tight and physical through the third frame with Melbourne up two heading into the fourth.

Melbourne had the answers in the fourth with Edwards adding another seven points while former JackJumper Milton Doyle landed the killer blow.

Walker also finished with 14 points, six assists and four rebounds for Melbourne while Doyle ended up with 13 points, five boards and two assists, and Chris Goulding nine points on 3/8 three-point shooting.

On top of what Magnay did for the JackJumpers, Bryce Hamilton had 17 points while Nick Marshall added 11 points and six boards on top of another solid job defensively on Goulding.

It was all about the Jesse Edwards-Will Magnay inside battle early doors with the Melbourne big man scoring eight of his team's first 11 points before picking up two quick fouls.

Magnay ended up with nine of Tasmania's first 11 points and the JackJumpers did go on a 7-0 run to be up three, but United went into quarter-time on top 23-21 with a heave on the buzzer from Tyson Walker.

Edwards was back on and scored immediately to start the second quarter for Melbourne before Tanner Krebs, Kyle Bowen and Walker landed triples to see their lead get out to nine.

As typical in battles between these teams, Tasmania responded with the next six points and closed the half with a 13-5 run to cut the Melbourne advantage to 43-42 at the break.

Every time Melbourne threatened to pull away throughout the second half Tasmania kept answering including when Nick Marshall scored five straight points late in the third quarter to put them in front.

But by three quarter-time United were back up two and then that lead even got out to eight with four minutes to play when Edwards scored once more.

The JackJumpers kept on coming and were back within two with 1:30 to play following a triple from Josh Bannan and bucket to Bryce Hamilton, but ultimately the biggest play of the night was Edwards' block on Bannan and Melbourne held on for the two-point win.

Melbourne will now play host to the Brisbane Bullets in an Ignite Cup match up in Bendigo on Wednesday while the JackJumpers stay on the road to face the Sydney Kings on Thursday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – HOOPSFEST

MELBOURNE UNITED 79 (Edwards 21, Walker 14, Doyle 13)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 77 (Hamilton 17, Magnay 17, Marshall 11)

BOX SCORE