Match Recap: NBL23 Round 3 vs Perth Wildcats

Written by Melbourne United Media

United have responded in the very best way, beating the previously undefeated Wildcats in Perth, 84-81.

Melbourne United jumped out of the blocks early, with Chris Goulding silencing the crowd with his first triple attempt, and Isaac Humphries pushing the floor to score in transition. Goulding was fouled behind the arc only moments later and dropped in his free throws helping extend Melbourne’s early lead to 9-0.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes then opened his account with back-to-back threes, and Melbourne were officially off to a hot start. However, with two threes from Brady Manek and Bryce Cotton beginning to get his spots, the intensity was up and the game was on.

Late in the first quarter, Lachie Barker copped an unfortunate shoulder from Jesse Wagstaff that put the young guard to the deck. He was helped to the bench and wouldn’t return to the game due to concussion.

The second quarter started as a see-sawing affair, with both teams trading blows. Cotton continued to impress himself on the game with 22 first-half points, but Melbourne managed to stick with the Wildcats, holding a 2-point lead into the main break.

The second half picked up where the first ended with scores tied at 47-47. Suddenly, with the help of yet another Goulding 3, Melbourne United went on a 7-0 run and started to pull away. But the Wildcats weren’t done with yet.

A put-back Okwera slam and Tucker blocking Cotton on a fast-break were among the highlights as the third ended in a flurry. United’s lead stretched out to 4 points by the end of the quarter and a raucous RAC Arena was on edge.

Isaac Humphries started the 4^th strong with some crucial buckets, as Melbourne United started to find some room on the offensive end down low.

Re-enter Bryce Cotton. After tweaking his ankle early in the quarter, the star guard came to life, and almost single-handedly brought the Wildcats back into the game. He sparked his side and the Red Army back into the action, as the momentum shifted back to the home team, who went on an 10-0 run and re-took the lead with 5 minutes to go.

A clinical set from Melbourne United resulted in yet another dunk from Owkera, but Norton responded with a shot clock buzzer-beating lay-in to keep the scores tied up, and the two heavyweight clubs continued to trade heavyweight blows.

United found themselves down by 4 points with just over two minutes to go. Rathan-Mayes found an open Isaac Humphries under the basket who was able to make the basket and then follow it up with back-to-back blocks.

Rayjon Tucker and Isaac Humphries both made clutch free throws in the final minute, helping seal the epic United win on the road.

Despite 16 turnovers, Melbourne United toughed it out and ended with four players in double figures, including double-doubles from Isaac Humphries and Xavier Rathan-Mayes. The win makes it 7-straight wins in RAC Arena for Melbourne United.

United will now return home to try and make it 2-from-2 wins in Round 3, when they take on Tasmania at John Cain Arena at 2pm on Sunday. Limited tickets are still available – click here to get yours now.

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