JackJumpers overcome hot Davison, Mennenga

The Tasmania JackJumpers withstood another 53 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists from Carlin Davison and Sam Mennenga for the New Zealand Breakers with Taran Armstrong showing the way with 32 points in the 98-92 victory.

The Breakers soared to a spirited win in Canberra over the Sydney Kings on Wednesday night with Mennenga and Davison showing the way in the continued absence of Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Josiah-Jordan James.

Mennenga then had 18 points in the first quarter and 23 to half-time on Sunday at MyState Bank Arena while Davison already had nine assists to half-time, but the JackJumpers were winning the hustle plays and the possession battle.

That ended up being the major difference in an entertaining affair. Along with Armstrong delivering a career-best 32 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, Dakota Mathias and David Johnson combined for 37 points and 9/20 three-point shooting.

That allowed the JackJumpers to win despite Mennenga providing the Breakers another 36 points, 11 rebounds and three assists on 15/19 shooting while Davison was brilliant as point guard again with 17 points and 11 assists on 6/8 shooting.

The JackJumpers ended up taking 10 extra shots and 15 more free throws while pulling down 19 offensive rebounds to New Zealand's nine, and forcing the Breakers into 18 turnovers and having just 10 themselves.

On top of what Mennenga and Davison did for the Breakers, Mojave King had another 18 points on 4/8 three-point shooting while newly arrived Germany replacement import Nelson Weidemann hit 2/3 from deep for six points in 16 minutes despite fouling out.

It was an entertaining and high-octane opening quarter from both teams with the Breakers going into quarter-time with the narrow 32-31 advantage after the JackJumpers had earlier led by as much as five.

Sam Mennenga was playing like a man possessed with 18 points already on perfect 7/7 shooting from the field including two from the outside and 2/2 at the free-throw line.

The JackJumpers were only shooting 9/20 to the 13/18 from New Zealand, but had nine free-throw attempts to two, six offensive rebounds to two, and just one turnover to four with David Johnson showing the way with eight points offensively.

The scoring rate dried up a little for both teams in the second quarter but it remained a tight affair with the JackJumpers going into half-time with the narrow 53-51 lead.

Johnson was up to 12 points and so was Taran Armstrong while Tasmania got up an extra four shots and 10 free throws on the back of nine offensive rebounds to three, and just four turnovers to eight.

Mennenga was up to 23 points on 9/10 shooting for New Zealand while Davison continued his stunning point guard form with six points and nine assists already.

Things turned into a bit more of a grind in the third quarter with Tasmania adding just the 17 points but that was enough to extend their lead to 70-65 by three quarter-time.

The Breakers managed just 14 points in the quarter on 5/12 shooting with another five turnovers and with Tasmania collecting seven more offensive rebounds, and with Mennenga only managing one shot attempt for two more points to be up to 25.

Tasmania then built the biggest lead of the game early in the fourth with a pair of free throws to Armstrong but the Breakers responded to draw back level soon after following a triple from Davison and bucket to Mennenga.

Kouat Noi then put the Breakers in front briefly before the JackJumpers responded with a 6-2 including a Magnay dunk off an o-board.

Johnson then made his fourth three of the game with five minutes to go to put the home team up by a game-high eight points and getting the job done from there for the six-point victory.

The JackJumpers now have their third home game in quick succession when they host the Brisbane Bullets in an Ignite Cup match up on Wednesday night.

The Breakers will have a full week back at home before hitting the road again next Sunday to play the Cairns Taipans in what will be Reuben Te Rangi's 400th NBL appearance.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 98 – NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 92

Tasmania JackJumpers
Taran Armstrong – 32 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
David Johnson – 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Dakota Mathias – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 5/9 3PT
Will Magnay – 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists
Ben Gold – 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

NZ Breakers
Sam Mennenga – 36 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 15/19 FG
Mojave King – 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4/8 3PT
Carlin Davison – 17 points, 11 assists, 6/8 FG
DJ Vasiljevic – 7 points
Nelson Weidemann – 6 points, 2 steals, 2/3 3PT