AFTER losing twice in a row to the same team in the past two weeks, Melbourne United finally bounced back and humbled the Tasmania JackJumpers in a closely contested 79-77 victory in the National Basketball League (NBL) HoopsFest on Saturday night.

Going into the matchup, United had lost six of their last eight games, two of them being against the JackJumpers, once losing by 20 and the other losing by 9. Going into the game, United knew they needed to get a win, as a loss would potentially continue to drop them further down the table.

All throughout, the game was heavily contested, with both teams trying to gain and hold onto a lead, but midway through the fourth United started to gain a little bit of a lead. Trying desperately to build on their lead, the JackJumpers kept persistently pushing forward and wouldn’t back away.

With one minute and thirty seconds to play, the score difference was just two and United were unable to score, but unfortunately, neither was Tasmania as the score remained as is for the last minute and a half. The game would finish with a three-point attempt to win the game by Bryce Hamilton, which did not go.

Dash Daniels was chosen by coach Dean Vickerman to start over Milton Doyle, who was benched to play a sixth man role, and in 16 minutes, Daniels put up two rebounds and one assist. While not having much of an impact offensively, defensively he was able to change the game by being in passing lanes and pressuring ball handlers.

In the end, Jesse Edwards was able to continue his incredible play by putting up a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double and blocking a crucial shot in the late stages of the game.

Hamilton put all he could out on the court to try win the game, but a missed three-pointer in the end was ultimately what let the game slip away. Finishing with 17 points, he led the way offensively and was the game changer come to the final stages of the close matchup.

Will Magnay, who had 17 points along with a defensive masterclass, was injured in the final stages, causing a major loss of interior presence, with him having such a big role on the team.

Even while losing the game, the JackJumpers stay at the sixth spot, which is just slightly in finals contention. They will next play the third-placed Sydney Kings, whom they have beaten three times this season, twice being in near twenty-point blowouts. Whilst the Kings’ new signing Torrey Craig has yet to be confirmed available, it will be a hard-fought, gritty face-off.

With United finally securing a win after weeks without, they will slightly remain at fourth on the table, just above the Perth Wildcats, while Perth has played one less game. Coming to the now crucial stages of the season leading to finals, every win counts, and if United want to get back to their start-of-season form, adjustments will need to be made.