Hometown guard Taran Armstrong hit a mid-range jumper with 5.5 seconds left as the Tasmania JackJumpers held off Melbourne United 84-82 at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night, completing a dramatic escape after leading by as much as 19 points.
According to NBL.com.au, Armstrong — back in his home state with Tasmania this season — drained the clutch pull-up after Sam Waardenburg’s three-pointer with 14.2 seconds remaining had levelled the scores at 82-82. Malith Machar’s look at a game-winning three for United would not fall.
How the JackJumpers survived
NBL.com.au reported Tasmania led by as much as 19 points and hauled in 18 offensive rebounds, but Melbourne stormed back to take the lead in the final two minutes before Waardenburg tied it again. Both sides were shorthanded: the JackJumpers were without Majok Deng, Ben Ayre, Anthony Drmic and Bryce Hamilton, while United missed Chris Goulding and Shea Ili. Six players fouled out as the teams combined for 72 free-throw attempts.
JackJumpers captain Will Magnay marked his 100th game with 17 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, going 12-of-14 from the foul line, per the NBL.com.au box score. Armstrong finished with 14 points and six assists, David Johnson 14 points, Dakota Mathias 13 points and nine rebounds, and Ben Gold nine points and eight boards.
United left kicking themselves
Melbourne shot 25-of-41 from the free-throw line and just 5-of-20 from beyond the arc, NBL.com.au reported. Josh Oduro led United with 22 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting. Joe Ingles added 18 points and five assists, Waardenburg 12 points and nine rebounds, while Cole Anthony and Luke Travers each scored 11 before fouling out.
Half-time belonged to Tasmania at 52-35 before United won the third quarter 19-16 and outscored the hosts 28-16 in the fourth. The JackJumpers are now two-for-two at home in NBL27. Both clubs face a short turnaround on Saturday — Tasmania away to the Brisbane Bullets, United hosting the Cairns Taipans.
TSB will update if either club reports further injury fallout from the foul-heavy contest.
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