The Bay Hawks have escaped Invercargill with a National Basketball League (NBL) win after a fourth-quarter comeback.
Down eight entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks dominated down the stretch, securing a 100-99 victory over the Southland Sharks with a pair of late free-throws at ILT Stadium Southland on Thursday night.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Josh Roberts made both free-throws with 10 seconds remaining to put the Hawks up one, before Alonzo Burton's three-point attempt at the buzzer missed, earning a win that looked unlikely as late as midway through the fourth period.
The Sharks extended their lead to 10 points on the first possession but the Hawks stayed in touch before an 11-0 run, including threes from Isaiah Moore and Keanu Rasmussen, flipped a seven-point deficit into a four-point lead with 2:22 to play.
Southland did not go away, eventually taking a 99-98 lead on import Cooper Robb's jumper with 41 seconds remaining, after the Sharks had grabbed three straight offensive rebounds on the possession.
Earlier, the game was heading the way so many have for the Sharks this season, a double-digit defeat, with the Hawks up 12 early in the second period. However, the home team uncorked a 30-9 run to lead by nine at halftime.
American guard Moore finished with 24 points (7/16 FG, 9/13 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists and two steals, while Australian forward Luke Sutherland matched him, with 24 points (8/13 FG, 5/8 3pt).
Rasmussen, another Australian, finished with 20 points (7/14 FG, 2/4 3pt, 4/6 FT), four assists and two steals, Josh Roberts 14 points (5/6 FG, 4/7 FT), 12 rebounds and four blocks, and Jordan Ngatai with nine points and eight assists.
Burton scored a team-high 21 points (8/11 FG, 5/7 3pt) for the Sharks as all five starters scored in double-digits for the first time this season. Kiwi big Callum McRae was two assists shy of a triple-double, with 18 points (9/13 FG), 10 boards and eight assists.
Ex Tall Black Brayden Inger also had 18 points (7/12 FG, 2/4 3pt) and 13 rebounds, while import guards Cooper Robb (7/16 FG, 2/7 3pt) and Caleb Asberry (6/13 FG, 4/4 FT) each scored 16 points, with Robb adding 10 boards and five assists.
The Hawks (6-7) head up State Highway 1 to Dunedin to face the Otago Nuggets (5-8) on Saturday (tip-off 4pm) in a game critical for both teams' playoffs hopes, while the Sharks (1-13) return to action in Week 12, hosting the Taranaki Airs (9-3) next Friday (tip-off 7.30pm)
Bay Hawks 100 (Isaiah Moore 24, Luke Sutherland 24, Keanu Rasmussen 20, Josh Roberts 14) Southland Sharks 99 (Alonzo Burton 21, Brayden Inger 18, Callum McRae 18, Caleb Asberry 16, Cooper Robb 16). 1Q: 24-17, HT: 46-55, 3Q: 71-79
Comments