United Come from Behind to Beat JJ's to Bring In 2022

It was a case of so close yet so far again for the Tasmania JackJumpers who couldn’t capitalise on a winning position with Melbourne United delivering when it mattered for a 76-72 New Year's Day NBL victory.

Once again the JackJumpers threw down the gauntlet to a well credentialed opponent, and went up 10 during the second quarter and were in front most of the way to bring in the New Year on their home floor at MyState Bank Arena.

However, the fourth quarter woes for the JJ's continued as they gave up a two-point three quarter-time lead by only scoring three points in the opening eight minutes.

Melbourne didn’t exactly set the world alight, but did enough to assume the lead and the game sealing play came at both ends from returning second-year star Jack White. 

He defended Josh Adams impressively up one end, then finished at the rim up the other to put United up by six with four minutes to go, and they went on to win by four.

The biggest difference ultimately was the size advantage Melbourne had with Tasmania missing Will Magnay through COVID protocols. As a result, Jo Lual-Acuil finished with 19 points and seven rebounds for United, and Ariel Hukporti 11 points and six boards.

Chris Goulding added 14 points for United while hitting 4/7 from three with Caleb Agada contributing another 12 points and nine rebounds.

Goulding was relieved to get the win afterwards, but in the bigger picture as a Tasmanian native, it was a thrill for him to be playing an official NBL game back in Hobart.

"It was cool. I've been looking forward to this for a long time," Goulding said.

"Tassie getting a team has been a long time coming in my mind so I definitely pencilled in the first time we were coming down here, and I wanted to experience the updated stadium, the sold out crowd and to come away with a win was cool. 

"It was looking a little dicey there at times and that's a credit to them, and how they've built this team and how they are playing even with key guys out. They play hard, they play a tough brand of basketball that's going to keep them in games. 

"Overall I'm really pleased to come out of here with a win and I'm really happy to be doing a press conference down here in Tassie after an NBL game. That's awesome."

Josh Adams remained in aggressive mode and delivered 23 points for Tasmania but his backcourt running mate Josh Magette struggled on 4/15 shooting despite 15 points.

Clint Steindl added eight points and Jack McVeigh eight with both going 2/4 from beyond the arc.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth felt it was self-inflicted wounds that cost his team in the fourth quarter especially.

"Obviously there were some self-inflicted wounds there with our group," Roth said.

"They played extremely hard and I was very proud just across the board. You are playing a championship calibre team with a lot of pedigree there of winning, but at the end of the day we lost a lot of offensive possessions. 

"Our defence hung in there a bit even though we still had some breakdowns, but I'm very pleased with the way these guys are competing and building this. At the end of the day, it's a loss but there's so many positives that come out of that game. I'm proud of those guys."

Through a couple of Caleb Agada baskets and a three to Jo Lual-Acuil, Melbourne made a fast start to lead 7-2 but the JackJumpers warmed to the task and their aggression on defence was proving effective to limit United's perimeter game.

Tasmania then finished the opening term with a 7-0 run starting with five points to Josh Adams and then a putback on the buzzer from Matt Kenyon to see the home team leading 27-22 after one.

The JackJumpers didn’t let up and were up 10 early in the second term when captain Clint Steindl knocked down an open three on another o-board. 

Dean Vickerman was forced into a timeout and he got the response he was after starting with a spark from Brad Newley, but they were finding an advantage inside.

Ariel Hukporti came out to have an impact and Lual-Acuil got going too to help Melbourne assume the 44-43 half-time lead with their big men combining for 22 points and nine rebounds in the half to help overcome 13 points from Adams for the JackJumpers.

Chris Goulding got going to start the second half with a couple of three balls in the first two minutes for Melbourne, but Tasmania were doing well to stay in touch including three-pointers of their own to Adams and Josh Magette.

Magette then responded with another three to a third of the quarter from Goulding, and the JackJumpers were up three, then four thanks to Jack McVeigh's second make from beyond the arc, and still two at three quarter-time.

Shea Ili strolled to the basket twice on consecutive possessions to see Melbourne take the lead early in the fourth quarter. 

With Tasmania unable to buy a fourth quarter basket again as they made just one field goal in more than eight minutes, United did enough to overtake them.

An inbounds pass to Lual-Acuil who dunked it home with 10 seconds to go allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate the arrival of 2022 with the win.

Tasmania will remain at home ahead of hosting the Sydney Kings next Saturday while Melbourne are scheduled next against the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong next Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 5

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 72 (Adams 23, Magette 15, McVeigh 8, Steindl 8)

MELBOURNE UNITED 76 (Lual-Acuil 19, Goulding 14, Agada 12) 

BOX SCORE