The Manawatu Jets have finished strong to earn their first win of the National Basketball League (NBL) season.
The Property Broker Jets outscored the Taranaki Airs 12-2 over the final two-plus minutes of the fourth quarter to take away a 93-84 win from New Plymouth's TSB Stadium in the Sal's NBL on Tuesday night.
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Tall Blacks Centurion Corey Webster guided Manawatu to victory with a game-high 30 points (10/26 FG, 5/10 3pt, 5/8 FT), six assists and three steals as the Jets made 15 triples at a 41 percent clip.
Young Kiwi guard Dontae Russo-Nance had himself a game for the winners, with 23 points (7/18 FG, 4/6 3pt, 5/7 FT), eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks, while American forward Miles Gibson had a double-double with 16 points (5/15 FG, 3/6 3pt) and 12 boards.
Their other imports, Eric Williams Jr and Kenny Goins also made an impact, with Williams putting up 11 points and eight boards, and Goins eight points and eight rebounds.
Three players - Harry Froling, Carlin Davison and Jack Andrew - had double-doubles for the Airs, who shot just 28 percent (6-of-21) on three-point attempts and committed 18 turnovers.
Froling had 25 points (9/21 FG, 7/8 FT), 11 rebounds and two steals, Davison 24 points (9/20 FG, 5/8 3pt), 10 boards, two steals and two blocks, and Andrew 13 points (6/8 FG) and 11 rebounds.
American guard Armon Fletcher also had 13 points (5/9 FG), three assists and two steals, and Quintin Bailey nine boards and four assists off the bench.
The Airs led 72-71 with 2:28 remaining before Russo-Nance hit back-to-back threes to give Manawatu the lead for good. Tyson Thata-Paese and Russo-Nance added baskets before the Jets iced the game at the free-throw line.
The Jets (1-1) take on the Indian Panthers (0-1) at Pulman Arena on Sunday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Airs (1-1) travel to the North Shore to face the Auckland Tuatara (0-1) earlier in the day (tip-off 3pm).
In the earlier Sky Broadband Rapid League game, Riley Tuuta hit a game-winning three as time expired in the Airs' 39-38 victory. Scott Telfer had 14 points and Quintin Bailey 12 points for Taranaki, while Tyson Thata-Paese scored 19 points for Manawatu.
Manawatu Jets 93 (Corey Webster 30, Dontae Russo-Nance 23, Miles Gibson 16, Eric Williams Jr 11) Taranaki Airs 84 (Harry Froling 25, Carlin Davison 24, Armon Fletcher 13, Jack Andrew 13). 1Q: 26-25, HT: 43-40, 3Q: 66-62