Tasmania's new imports showed why they're being touted as among the NBL off-season's best pick ups, but Tasmania couldn't hold on in a thrilling season opener at MyState Bank Arena. 

A packed house welcomed NBL basketball back to the island after a 222 day off season, with the crowd eager for a tight and physical battle. And they got one 

There were more than 30 lead changes throughout the see-sawing contest and new JackJumpers imports Bryce Hamilton and David Johnson were especially impressive, but former JackJumper Milton Doyle delivered when it mattered most.

Doyle scored 11 of his 22 points for the game in the final four minutes including Melbourne's last seven in the last 60 seconds to come up clutch as he did so often in a Tasmania uniform despite shooting 7/21.

Despite the loss, there was plenty to like for the JackJumpers with Hamilton finishing with 24 points on 11/18 shooting and Johnson delivering 22 points and 10 rebounds with 3/7 from downtown.

Scott Roth impressed with the output from some of his new faces. 

"Bannon and Marshall and then the three imports, you know, there's just a tremendous amount of growth potential with those guys over the course of this season. 

"They're super coachable.

"It was a classic game against United as far as just a smash mouth kind of back and forth kind of game. And, you know, they beat us up on the glass, which was really the big difference" Roth said.

New captain Will Magnay had six points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks with Josh Bannan providing nine points and six rebounds with 3/5 from downtown, and Tyger Campbell seven points and four assists.

In front of their rabid home fans, the JackJumpers started on fire racing to an 8-2 opening firstly with a bucket to Will Magnay and then new import duo Bryce Hamilton and David Johnson getting going early.

That lead for Tasmania was 18-11 later in the first quarter after triples to Johnson and fellow new arrival Josh Bannan, but Melbourne's experienced recruits shone to finish the period.

Finn Delany and Milton Doyle both hit threes as part of an 8-0 run before quarter-time to see Melbourne leading 23-22.

Johnson and Hamilton were proving a handful for Melbourne's defence with the Tasmanian pair combining for their team's first eight points in the second period for them to go back up four.

But it was Melbourne's rebounding keeping them in the game including 14 offensive rebounds to seven for the first half and when Doyle scored just before the buzzer on his old home floor, it was United on top 47-46 by half-time.

"It's more just an effort and a relentlessness to go do your job and finish off the possessions because when we got them in the half court, they struggled to score a little bit. But the reloads and the offensive rebounds kept them in the game obviously and then our foul discipline wasn't on point" Roth said post-game.

Melbourne then opened up their biggest lead of the game during the third quarter getting out by six following an 8-0 run that included three balls to Shea Ili and Tom Wilson.

Tasmania responded out of a timeout from Scott Roth with six straight points from Nick Marshall and by three quarter-time scores were locked at 66-66.

Melbourne again grabbed the momentum midway through the fourth quarter with former JackJumper Fabijan Krslovic landing a three to help them to the 75-71 lead.

Tasmania again answered with a triple to Bannan and then a score off a steal in transition from Hamilton to grab the lead with 2:37 to play.

Scores were still level heading into the final minute but that's where Doyle put the final daggers into his old team to silence the fans that adored him at the same time 12 months ago.

Doyle scored Melbourne's last seven points including a three-pointer and the clutch free throws to secure the four-point win for his new team.

"I think tonight was the most minutes Magnay's ever played in a Jack Jumper uniform so that's a good sign also and yeah, we'll just turn the page and move on to the next game" Roth said.

The JackJumpers now head to Perth to face the Wildcats on Saturday night at RAC Arena.

‍HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 84 (Hamilton 24, Johnson 22, Bannan 9)

MELBOURNE UNITED 88 (Doyle 22, Walker 14, Delany 12, Ili 12)

BOX SCORE