JackJumpers survive Breakers to go top

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 and eventually secured the 79-77 win in Launceston to return to NBL top spot.

The JackJumpers were back for a second game of the season at the Silverdome where they have won just twice in 11 attempts over their history.

Tasmania then opened up an 11-point lead by early in the second quarter but New Zealand were being inspired by Sam Mennenga and Carlin Davison to finish the first half on fire.

The Breakers closed with an 11-0 run with scores level going into half-time 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 a heavy early 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, opted for a long two. It didn’t go for the JackJumpers to win by two and improve to 8-3 and move ahead of the Sydney Kings in top spot.

It's just a third win in 12 attempts in Launceston for the JackJumpers with Dakota Mathias top scoring with 18 points with 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 most of the night.

Mennenga continued his dominant form with another 29 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two blocks on 13/19 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.

The two teams had already met three times previously in Launceston with New Zealand winning the past two, but the JackJumpers were determined to get back to form inside the Silverdome and opened up a 10-point lead in the first quarter.

Tasmania were still up 27-19 by the end of one with Dakota Mathias going 3/4 from the outside for nine points and the home team got to the foul line 10 times to just two.

It was Sam Mennenga keeping the Breakers in the contest with another 10 points and three rebounds already on 5/5 shooting after 18 first-quarter points last time against the JackJumpers.

The JackJumpers got out to as much as 11 early in the second quarter but then the Breakers managed to finish the half with all the momentum by scoring the last 11 points.

That was spearheaded by Carlin Davison running the point and he was up to eight assists by half-time with Mennenga having 20 points and seven rebounds with scores all locked at 43-43.

Mathias added another triple in the quarter for the JackJumpers to have 14 points with Josh Bannan up 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Tasmania then started the second half with the first seven points to regain control and still to be leading 64-55 by three quarter-time with Bannan having 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and captain Will Magnay 16 points, three boards, three assists and three blocks.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright didn’t return after half-time for New Zealand with Davison unable to add to his assists tally, but Mennenga had another four points and five rebounds.

The Breakers refused to go away and it was back to a two-point game with 22 seconds to go before Magnay missed two free throws to give them a chance, but Mennenga's long two just wouldn’t fall and the JackJumpers held on to win by two.

Both teams now don't play again until next week with the JackJumpers first up in Perth against the Wildcats on Thursday night before the Breakers return to Spark Arena on Friday against the Brisbane Bullets.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 79 – NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 77

Tasmania JackJumpers
Dakota Mathias – 18 points, 5 rebounds 4/10 3PT
Will Magnay – 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
Josh Bannan – 14 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists
Taran Armstrong – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Kody Stattmann – 9 points, 2 rebounds

NZ Breakers
Sam Mennenga – 29 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
Kouat Noi – 9 points, 3 rebounds
DJ Vasiljevic – 7 points, 5 rebounds
Reuben Te Rangi – 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Carlin Davison – 6 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals