Match Recap: NBL25 Round 2, Game 2 v Tasmania JackJumpers

Melbourne United have lost their first game of the Hungry Jack’s NBL25 season, going down to the Tasmania JackJumpers in the Bass Strait Battle, powered by Marinus Link.

As he has for the first two games of the season, Rob Loe showed his strength inside, muscling in for United’s opening score.

This physicality continued for much of the first term, with both teams working their way to the free-throw line.

Both Marcus Lee and Akech Aliir skied high for blocks, while Jack White played above the rim at the other end, tallying six points of his own.

Despite this, Tasmania found themselves on top to close the period, up 14-20 after 10 minutes.

It was more of the same action come the second quarter, but with Ian Clark stepping up as Melbourne’s primary scorer.

The import guard tallied nine points on a pair of floaters, a contested three and two free throws.

This play, along with some aggressive play from Matthew Dellavedova, closed the JackJumpers lead to as little as five points, however a late 6-0 run from the home side gave United an 11-point deficit to overcome heading into half time.

Coming out of the major break, Marcus Lee provided some energy for Melbourne, finishing a layup in the paint before swatting a shot at the other end.

These unfortunately were United’s only two points throughout the first 3 and a half minutes of the term, as the JackJumpers looked to take control.

Having pulled ahead by as many as 18 points, Melbourne’s stars came through, with Goulding and Dellavedova cashing in from three, while Loe and Tanner Krebs scored inside the arc.

This fight back reduced the margin to just 12 points with one quarter remaining.

Needing their best to secure a come-from-behind win, United turned up their intensity at both ends of the floor.

White was immense, hitting from long range and around the rim, while also adding a pair of timely steals.

With less than three minutes remaining, Clark scored four unanswered points in quick succession, making it an eight-point game.

Unfortunately for United, this was as close as the team would come to victory, with the JackJumpers ultimately able to hold on to a 72-81 win.

United will next play on Friday, October 2 in Perth against the Wildcats. Fans can tune in on ESPN via Kayo from 9:30pm AEST.