United survive furious 36ers fightback

Bryce Cotton and Nick Rakocevic did what they could for the Adelaide 36ers, but couldn’t do it all themselves and Melbourne United held out a furious finish from the home team for the 96-91 Ignite Cup by 7-Eleven win.

The two teams met to open the season back on the opening night with Adelaide beating Melbourne by two points on the road, but the going has been tough for both since.

United did win a Throwdown, but either side of that have lost to the Tasmania JackJumpers and Cairns Taipans while the Sixers have lost three of four since including twice in Round 3 to the Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers.

Melbourne controlled the first three quarters, but Adelaide still had the six-time MVP. Zylan Cheatham and John Jenkins III finally chimed in, and the Sixers got back as close as three late at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

United did enough to hold on for a five-point win after a largely two-man show from Adelaide in the continued absence of Flynn Cameron and Isaac Humphries.

Cotton and Rakocevic combined for 66 of their 91 points. The rest of their teammates only contributed 25 points on 10/29 shooting.

Melbourne had plenty more contributors with Cole Anthony playing through his frustrations to deliver 24 points, five rebounds and four assists with 4/7 three-point shooting.

Josh Oduro added 16 points, two rebounds and two blocks, Luke Travers 16 points, seven boards and four assists, and Joe Ingles 11 points, four rebounds and four assists in his return home to Adelaide.

Cotton ended up with 33 points and nine assists for the 36ers with 6/13 three-point shooting with Rakocevic contributing 33 points and 14 rebounds on 15/25 shooting.

Jenkins then ended up with 10 points on 3/7 three-point shooting, and Cheatham eight points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Both teams came into the match up needing a steadying early season win and Melbourne wasted no time taking control and went into the quarter-time break already leading 31-21.

Josh Oduro, Cole Anthony and Joe Ingles combined for 20 of those 31 points for United while Bryce Cotton and Nick Rakocevic had 15 of the 21 for Adelaide, but just couldn’t do it all alone.

Melbourne took further charge in the second frame and while Cotton and Rakocevic kept fighting hard for Adelaide with the latter back on after two early fouls, it was fast becoming just a two-man show for the home team.

That pair did add 15 points in the second term, but the rest of the team only had two and as a result United were well in control leading 56-38 by half-time.

Luke Travers already had 14 points, three rebounds and three assists with Anthony up to 10 points, three boards and four assists, and Oduro 10 points and two blocks.

Adelaide did threaten to get back into the contest during the third quarter and again Rakocevic and Cotton combined for 18 of their 21 points, but United kept on having the answers including a triple from Tom Wilson just before the buzzer.

That had Melbourne on top 76-59 by three quarter-time but the Sixers came out hot in the fourth and a triple early on from John Jenkins III helped their cause.

By the time he hit a second with four minutes to go, it was back to an eight-point game and then all the way to three two minutes later with a powerful Zylan Cheatham dunk.

A huge Anthony three in response steadied Melbourne and that proved the dagger blow with United going on to win by five.

Both teams back up again to play later this round with Melbourne having a Throwdown with the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday night while the Sixers head to Sydney for a Championship Series rematch with the Kings on Sunday.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 91 – MELBOURNE UNITED 96

Adelaide 36ers
Nick Rakocevic – 33 points, 14 rebounds, 15/25 FG
Bryce Cotton – 33 points, 9 assists, 6/13 3PT
John Jenkins III – 10 points, 3/7 3PT
Zylan Cheatham – 8 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
Keanu Rasmussen – 4 points, 2 rebounds

Melbourne United
Cole Anthony – 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Luke Travers – 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Josh Oduro – 16 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks
Joe Ingles – 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Kyle Bowen – 8 points, 3/6 FG