Hamilton leads Tassie to first win of NBL26

It was a Bryce of a different variety who was the star for the Tasmania JackJumpers at RAC Arena with Bryce Hamilton leading his team to the 75-72 road win over the Perth Wildcats.

The JackJumpers overturned a 12-point deficit soon after quarter-time on Saturday night to dominate the middle two quarters, before holding on narrowly as the Wildcats rallied late.

Devastated at losing the legendary Bryce Cotton to arch-rival Adelaide over the offseason, Perth fans were tormented by the competition's newest Bryce - Hamilton - who scored 20 of his game-high haul of 26 on 12/19 field goal shooting after half-time.

Hamilton followed a step-back three with a tough coast-to-coast drive and a neat floater late to give Tasmania an eight-point lead inside the last minute.

Wildcats import Mason Jones responded with a trey and a three-point play to give the home side a sniff, but his three-point prayer at the buzzer - which would have forced overtime - was wayward.

David Johnson also finished with 12 points with 3/5 three-point shooting for Tasmania with captain Will Magnay adding 10 points and four boards, Josh Bannan nine points and 10 rebounds, and Majok Deng eight points and three boards.

The JackJumpers put in a tremendous defensive performance to hold the Wildcats to 6/25 three-point shooting, just 14 free-throw attempts and to 13 turnovers with just the 12 assists.

Jones top-scored for Perth with 16 points, while gun recruit Jo Lual-Acuil JR paired 15 points with 14 rebounds.

Kristian Doolittle had 12 points and six rebounds but it was a tough night for fellow import Dylan Windler with just three points on 1/7 shooting.

Lual-Acuil and 506-game veteran Jesse Wagstaff were active early as the Wildcats rode a strong 16-11 rebounding advantage to a 21-13 quarter-time lead.

In danger of being snowed under and starting the season 0-2 following their opening-night loss to Melbourne, Tasmania lifted their energy after the break, Hamilton and fellow American David Johnson pacing a 16-3 run as Perth began stagnating at both ends.

Another Hamilton-inspired 10-0 burst gave the visitors total control in the third period as Tasmania ultimately outscored Perth 20-14 and 21-14 in the middle two quarters to lead by five at the last change.

Ben Henshall and Kristian Doolittle started the final term strongly for the Wildcats but they had no answers for the brilliant Hamilton.

The Wildcats will now hit the road for the first time in NBL26 taking on the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena next Saturday while the JackJumpers are in action later that same evening away to the defending champion Illawarra Hawks.

‍HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

PERTH WILDCATS 72 (Jones 16, Lual-Acuil Jr 15, Doolittle 12)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 75 (Hamilton 26, Johnson 12, Magnay 10)

BOX SCORE