The Bay Hawks have hung tough down the stretch to secure a road win in the National Basketball League (NBL).
Despite scoring just five points over the final three minutes, the Hawks relied on their defence to hold on for a 92-89 win over the Manawatu Jets at Palmerston North's Central Energy Trust Arena on Thursday night.
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American guard Isaiah Moore scored a team-high 25 points (12/23 FG), with four rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Hawks, while Australian Keanu Rasmussen added 21 points (7/20 FG, 1/9 3pt, 6/8 FT), six boards and three steals.
Lucas Sutherland dropped four triples for his 18 points (7/17 FG, 4/7 3pt) and four rebounds, while Tall Blacks forward Jordan Ngatai had 15 points (5/10 FG, 4/5 FT), nine boards and four assists, and Josh Roberts six points and 11 rebounds.
The loss spoiled a big night for Troy Baxter Jr, who went off for 35 points (12/23 FG, 4/13 3pt, 7/8 FT), 11 boards, three assists and two steals, and Mustapha Heron, who contributed 24 points (8/22 FG, 2/9 3pt, 6/6 FT), eight rebounds and four assists.
Kiwi forward Liam Judd also had 14 points (6/17 FG), eight boards and four assists, but the Jets got just 16 points from the rest of their lineup.
The result lifted the Hawks to 2-1, joining four other teams on four points, while the Jets dropped to 1-3.
The Hawks trailed just once in the game, when Judd hit a three to culminate a 7-2 run, taking an 83-82 lead with 4:50 remaining. Moore quickly put the Hawks back ahead, before Sutherland dropped a triple for a four-point lead at 3:17.
A pair of free-throws from Campbell Scott and a Heron bucket tied it up for the fourth time in the quarter at 2:23 but the Jets went scoreless for more than two minutes before Heron pulled the home side within one with 20 seconds remaining.
Rasmussen hit two free-throws to extend the lead, with Heron's contested potential game-tying three from the top of the arc not on target as time expired.
While both teams shot better than 50 percent inside the arc, their three-point shooting was woeful, the Hawks 7-of-29 (24 percent) and Jets 8-of-39 (20 percent).
The Hawks (2-1) have more than a week off until their next game, at home to the defending champion Canterbury Rams (1-1) on April 20 (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Jets (1-3) are back in action in Round 3 on Sunday at the Franklin Bulls (2-0) in Pukekohe (tip-off 6.30pm).
Bay Hawks 92 (Isaiah Moore 25, Keanu Rasmussen 21, Lucas Sutherland 18, Jordan Ngatai 15) Manawatu Jets 89 (Troy Baxter Jr 35, Mustapha Heron 24, Liam Judd 14). 1Q: 22-17, HT: 48-42, 3Q: 71-66
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