CG43 sets up big United win over Hawks

Chris Goulding lit it open with seven three-pointers to set up quite the emphatic 102-87 victory from Melbourne United against the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong Tuesday night.

Goulding was on track for 50 by half-time for Melbourne at WIN Entertainment Centre on the back draining the seven three-pointers in the opening half.

He might not have scored in the second half but it mattered little with Melbourne dominating with 53 points to 32 throughout the second and third quarters to secure the eventual 15-point win over the Hawks on the road.

It was just the response that United coach Dean Vickerman was after following a tough loss on Sunday against the South East Melbourne Phoenix. While it didn’t start how he would have wanted as Justinian Jessup was the spark behind an early 13-5 edge for Illawarra.

But United soon got rolling offensively thanks to Goulding and were able to shut down Jessup from there to hold him three points the rest of the night while Tyler Harvey also never got rolling.

Melbourne ended up dominating the boards 42 to 35 while also shooting the ball at an outstanding 58 per cent from the field with 41/70 and 17/33 from three-point range at 51 per cent. The Hawks managed just 41 per cent from the floor and went 8/25 at 32 per cent from deep.

On top of Goulding's 25 points on 7/13 shooting from long-range, fellow Boomers Tokyo hopeful Jock Landale dominated for United with 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks on 8/10 shooting and going 3/5 from deep.

No doubt at least part of their motivation was to impress national coach Brian Goorjian and inflict pain on his Hawks in the process.

Scotty Hopson also had 13 points and eight assists for Melbourne, Mason Peatling 10 points and three rebounds, Jo Lual-Acuil 10 points and four boards, and Mitch McCarron seven points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman was happy with the response after Saturday's loss to the Phoenix.

"They came out with Jessup tough early on but I thought we probably allowed him some of the things that he does he really well. But we changed our scouting a little bit after the timeout and came out with a much greater focus," Vickerman said.

"Then once we started to penetrate and put our feet in the paint it opened up the perimeter. We had made 12 threes at half-time to stretch a nice little lead out there but it was nice to see us playing the right way, sharing the basketball and shooting it with confidence."

Deng Deng top-scored for Illawarra giving 23 minutes off the bench with 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Justinian Jessup finished with 11 points, Sam Froling 10 points and seven boards, and Tyler Harvey 10 points and four assists.

Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian had understandably liked his team's defensive performances of late, but that certainly wasn’t the case on Tuesday night.

"We had a real issue tonight and we had no answer for them defensively. We had preparation time for tonight and the key we talked about was that we have to lock into Goulding in the first quarter. He's the leading score in it and that's the guy that breaks your spirit," Goorjian said.

"They are totally better than us and are better than us right now, but going into this one without Grida was tough. You put Grida on Goulding and Simon on the ball, and it's the look that we've had in the last three games after Adel departed and we brought Grida into it. 

"He hasn't helped us offensively but on the defensive side of the floor, he's guarded that wing player to enable Justin to guard the ball. Tonight it was a different looking having Harvey or Emmett on the ball, and Justin on Goulding. 

"That wasn’t a good match up and then with the back up scenarios and what do you do, and who do you go with, there was never anyone and he just toyed with them. The Goulding thing was a huge issue and then Jock Landale is a tremendous player. 

"They are two very important players in the national team and whenever they play us they look to make that statement in the game."

The Hawks had put together a couple of good home wins and with United coming off their loss to the Phoenix, it was Illawarra who started the better with Justinian Jessup on fire early. 

He put up eight points early doors and Tyler Harvey added a triple and Justin Simon another basket, and the signs were good with the 13-5 lead for the home side.

Chris Goulding began the turnaround, though, with three three-pointers in the matter of minutes. When David Barlow hit a couple of from downtown too, and then Goulding hit his fourth three ball of the first term, Melbourne led by four but the Hawks cut it back to one by quarter-time.

A three-pointer from Jessup early in the second term kept Illawarra close, but he would not score again the rest of the game and United would soon go on a run 13 consecutive points made up of a triple from Scotty Hopson but two more three balls as well from Goulding.

Goulding nailed his seventh shot from downtown soon after as Melbourne led 51-35, and then still 53-42 by half-time even though the Hawks closed the half on a 7-2 streak.

Jock Landale helped Melbourne pull away further to start the second half with a quick three-point play, a three-pointer and 10 points in the opening five minutes of the third quarter. Hopson and Shea Ili then drained threes, and Jo Lual-Acuil helped Melbourne's lead grow to 22 points by three quarter-time.

Melbourne then hit the first six points of the fourth term as the lead blew out to 28 points and at least the Hawks were able to cut the final margin to 15 including a three-pointer from Tim Coenraad to close it out, but conceding 102 points was anything but Goorjian was hoping to see.

The Hawks now hit the road after three straight home games to take on the Adelaide 36ers on Friday, but it's a Sixers without Josh Giddey and likely Isaac Humphries.

United remain on the road to take on the Bullets in Brisbane next Monday night as they attempt to guarantee top spot.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 19

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 87 (Deng 15, Jessup 11, Froling 10, Harvey 10)

MELBOURNE UNITED 102 (Goulding 25, Landale 21, Peatling 10) 

BOX SCORE