Mitsubishi Match Recap: Hungry Jack’s NBL26 - Round 17 v Tasmania JackJumpers

Melbourne United have picked up an important win at HoopsFest, beating the Tasmania JackJumpers by two points inside RAC Arena on Saturday evening.

United attacked the paint aggressively to start the game, with Jesse Edwards scoring eight of the team’s first 11 points, including a pair of thunderous dunks.

With Edwards thriving inside, Chris Goulding found his range on the perimeter, cashing in a pair of looks from deep.

Even when Edwards went to the bench, Fabijan Krslovic provided great energy in the middle, poking away the ball in the post leading to a Milton Doyle spin layup and getting on the offensive glass for a putback layup.

Doyle added another layup, but it was the JackJumpers who led by one with 2.5 seconds remaining in the period.

Tyson Walker was however able to provide a highlight to end the quarter, sinking his look from half court to push Melbourne ahead 23-21 after 10 minutes of play.

Pace was the name of the game to start the second for United, which helped result in a 10-4 run.

Edwards checked back into the game and immediately scored from the post, while Tanner Krebs tallied five quick points by running the floor.

Kyle Bowen and Walker each connected from downtown following this, with the latter then coming away with a steal and layup to put Melbourne up by nine points.

Tasmania were able to put together a run of their own, slowly cutting into the margin, but a triple from Goulding off another Krslovic o-board and a Doyle floater through contact kept United in front at the major break, leading 43-42.

Coming out of halftime, the game remained tight, with neither team able to build a significant lead.

Walker and Edwards led the way for Melbourne, accounting for the team’s first 10 points before Krslovic added a three-ball from the top of the arc.

Krebs was able to emulate this, making his second long-ball after swatting a shot at the rim.

Bowen got in on the shot-blocking party as well, getting a finger-tip of a JackJumpers three to help United stay in front 61-59 with one quarter to play. 

Wanting to build on their lead, Melbourne came out with energy.

Krebs came away with a steal leading to a Bowen layup, Edwards hit the offensive glass and found Doyle for a midrange jumper, and Walker got to the rim for a silky finish.

Edwards then went back to work in the post, scoring twice from the block, sandwiching a Doyle floater.

Leading by eight, Melbourne had to weather a final run from the JackJumpers, who continued to attack.

A huge Doyle three-ball after his own miss would be United’s final points of the game, but despite some clutch buckets from Tasmania, Edwards was able to come up with the biggest moment of the contest, swatting a shot in the final minute to help secure a 79-77 victory.

Melbourne United will next play back in Bendigo on Wednesday 21 January from 5:30pm against the Brisbane Bullets in their final game of the Ignite Cup.

Tickets are available here.