JackJumpers lose tight one to Bullets back home

The Tasmania JackJumpers fought back from a 14-point deficit in the second half to hit the front late but couldn’t quite complete the deal on return to MyState Bank Arena with the Brisbane Bullets prevailing 83-81.

Having lost their past two matches at the Silverdome in Launceston including a heart stopper on Thursday night to the South East Melbourne Phoenix, the JackJumpers were back to MyState Bank Arena to host the Bullets on Saturday.

Tasmania started well too leading 9-2 early but Brisbane worked on top to be up 14 late in the third quarter, and still leading by seven halfway through the fourth.

The JackJumpers responded and Nick Marshall and Bryce Hamilton combined for an 11-3 run to put the home team back in front, but in the end the Bullets got back on top to claim the two-point win.

Josh Bannan battled hard once more for the JackJumpers against his former team finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals on 8/16 shooting.

Marshall also continued his career-best season with another 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists with Hamilton having 16 points with six rebounds while hitting 3/6 from deep even when going 2/9 from inside the arc.

Ben Ayre had a hot shooting performance going 4/6 from behind the three-point line for 14 points and two assists with Tyger Campbell adding seven points and eight assists, Majok Deng five points, three rebounds and two steals, and Will Magnay 10 rebounds with three points and two assists.

Ultimately the difference between the teams was the efforts of Casey Prather and Tyrell Harrison for the Bullets.

Prather finished with 28 points and eight rebounds on 11/22 shooting with Harrison providing 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 10/14 field goal shooting.

The JackJumpers were back home after playing their past two matches in Launceston and started strongly racing out to a 9-2 advantage including a triple from Tyger Campbell.

Mitch Norton then helped steady the Bullets in his return with a couple of free throws before both teams traded 6-0 runs, and then the JackJumpers opened up a nine-point lead after a triple from Majok Deng and three-point play from Josh Bannan against his former team.

Brisbane answered with the last five points including the first NBL score from Jacob Holt with Tasmania clinging to the 23-19 edge after one.

Ben Ayre then fired the JackJumpers with eight quick points to open the second frame and the lead was back out to nine for the home team, but Brisbane willed themselves to take over from there.

The Bullets scored the next 11 points including a three-pointer from Alex Ducas with the other eight all coming from an unstoppable Casey Prather.

Ducas and Dakota Mathias then also hit from behind the arc before half-time to give Brisbane the 46-43 advantage.

The Bullets continued to gradually build on their lead throughout the third quarter and it got out to as much as 14 points when Prather landed a three ball.

Tasmania did stay in touch with the last five points of the third period with the Bullets still leading 69-60 with one to play.

Brisbane did remain in control still leading by nine until Nick Marshall made a three-pointer for Tasmania with 6:30 to play which set up a fascinating finish to the contest.

Hamilton landed a three soon after too for the JackJumpers to make it a two-point ball game, and when he made a second with three minutes to go, it was suddenly a one-point margin.

Marshall then put the JackJumpers back in front with just under three to play with Prather responding up the other end to restore the lead for the Bullets only for Campbell to bring things back square with 2:30 to go.

It was a tense finish from there and the only score in the last 2:30 came on a strong drive from Prather to put Bullets back up two which is where they stayed with the JackJumpers unable to get up a good look on the final possession.

The JackJumpers remain at MyState Bank Arena to play host to the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Bannan 18, Marshall 18, Hamilton 16)

BRISBANE BULLETS 83 (Prather 28, Harrison 21, Murray 8, Ducas 8)

BOX SCORE