Rd 8 Report | JackJumpers win at Silverdome to go top

After the Tasmania Jewels ended the curse back on Saturday, the JackJumpers backed it up on Friday night holding on in a thriller in Launceston to beat the New Zealand Breakers 79-77 to return to the top of the NBL.

The JackJumpers returned to the Silverdome for the second straight Friday night and trying to avoid another defeat in the venue after giving up 12 of the last 14 points last week against the Sydney Kings.

Tasmania started well to be leading by 11 early in the second quarter but the Breakers had scores back level by half-time before the JackJumpers came out with the first seven of the second half.

The JackJumpers didn’t give up the lead the rest of the way but the Breakers still had a chance at the end with a long two attempted by Sam Mennenga that didn’t fall.

Tasmania held on to win by two to improve to an 8-3 record and return to top spot in the NBL going into the weekend.

For the second straight game, just seven players hit the court for the JackJumpers with Majok Deng, Bryce Hamilton, Ben Gold and David Johnson still unavailable.

Tasmania did win despite taking 17 fewer shots than New Zealand having given up 13 offensive rebounds to the Breakers, but the JackJumpers did go 21/31 at the free-throw line opposed to 11/14.

Dakota Mathias had 14 points to half-time including all four of his three-point makes but he still top scored for the JackJumpers with 18 points with five rebounds and two assists.

Josh Bannan had a strong all-round performance made up of 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists with captain Will Magnay providing 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

Taran Armstrong added 10 points, four rebounds and four assists, Kody Stattmann nine points, two rebounds and going 5/6 at the foul line, Nick Marshall seven points, five assists and three boards, and Nick Stoddart five points and two rebounds.

The two teams had already met three times previously in Launceston with New Zealand winning the past two, but the JackJumpers were determined to get back to form inside the Silverdome and opened up a 10-point lead in the first quarter.

Tasmania were still up 27-19 by the end of one with Dakota Mathias going 3/4 from the outside for nine points and the home team got to the foul line 10 times to just two.

The JackJumpers got out to as much as 11 early in the second quarter but then the Breakers managed to finish the half with all the momentum by scoring the last 11 points to leave scores all locked at 43-43.

Mathias added another triple in the quarter for the JackJumpers to have 14 points with Josh Bannan up 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Tasmania then started the second half with the first seven points to regain control and still to be leading 64-55 by three quarter-time with Bannan having 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and captain Will Magnay 16 points, three boards, three assists and three blocks.

The Breakers refused to go away and it was back to a two-point game with 22 seconds to go before Magnay missed two free throws to give them a chance, but Mennenga's long two just wouldn’t fall and the JackJumpers held on to win by two.

The JackJumpers now don't play again until heading to Perth to face the Wildcats on Thursday night before remaining on the road against the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2026/27 | ROUND 8

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 79 defeated New Zealand Breakers 77

The Silverdome, Friday November 6

Dakota Mathias | 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Will Magnay | 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Josh Bannan | 14 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists
Taran Armstrong | 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Kody Stattmann | 9 points, 2 rebounds
Nick Marshall | 7 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds
Nick Stoddart | 5 points, 2 rebounds