JackJumpers hit back to beat Phoenix

The Tasmania JackJumpers took charge against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Traralgon on Wednesday night to overcome an early nine-point deficit to score the 89-81 Ignite Cup by Disney+ NBL victory.

The Phoenix made a fast start at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium with the game's first six points and then to put up 36 in the first quarter on the way to a nine-point advantage.

Tasmania were able to take control from there, though, outscoring South East Melbourne 62 points to 45 the rest of the way including 25-12 in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 52-48 and then converting that into the eventual eight-point road victory.

Over the course of the last three quarters, the JackJumpers held the Phoenix to just 45 points after they scored 36 in the first term while shooting just 14/50 at 28 per cent with 4/29 from three-point range at 14 per cent.

Tasmania put up 62 points in contrast over the final three quarters and even though they too still only ended up shooting 41 per cent from the field and went 4/21 at 19 per cent from downtown, they did go 25/34 at the free-throw line to go with 14 offensive rebounds and just eight turnovers.

Bryce Hamilton top-scored for the JackJumpers with 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists on 7/14 shooting with Will Magnay drawing 10 fouls on his way to 12 points and seven rebounds.

Josh Bannan also had 12 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for Tasmania, Majok Deng 12 points, five boards and two assists, Nick Marshall 12 points and seven rebounds, and new starter Ben Ayre 10 points and three assists.

Tyger Campbell responded well to coming off the bench for nine points in 21 minutes with David Johnson also having four points and two assists in 14 minutes off the bench.

Wes Iwundu ended up with 17 points with eight rebounds and four assists for South East Melbourne with Angus Glover scoring 13 points, Nathan Sobey 12 and John Brown III 12.

South East Melbourne made the perfect start with two early three-pointers from Nathan Sobey before Tasmania got on the board firstly through a pair of free throws to new starter Ben Ayre and a bucket to Josh Bannan.

The JackJumpers kept pace with the Phoenix most of the rest of the first quarter before South East Melbourne finished with an 11-3 run to be leading 36-27 by the end of one.

Tasmania then scored the first four points of the second quarter and went on another 13-2 run leading towards half-time to grab the lead, and to still be on top 52-48 going into the locker room having outscored the Phoenix 25 points to 12 for the term.

The JackJumpers again started the third quarter strongly with the opening four points and then another 6-0 run saw that lead stretch to 10 points, and by three quarter-time the visitors were still on top by four.

The JackJumpers continued to have all the answers in the fourth quarter including dagger three-pointers from Nick Marshall and David Johnson on a night where they only made four as a team.

Johnson's triple kickstarted a game clinching 9-0 run that saw Tasmania go from leading by two to 11, and then clinching the eight-point victory from there after taking charge over the last three quarters.

The JackJumpers now remain on the road to take on the Cairns Taipans this Saturday in Far North Queensland before a return home the following Saturday to play host to the Perth Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – IGNITE CUP PRESENTED BY DISNEY+

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 89 (Hamilton 18, Marshall 12, Magnay 12, Bannan 12, Deng 12)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 81 (Iwundu 17, Glover 13, Sobey 12, Brown III 12)

BOX SCORE