Saints Hold Out For Win At Home
Orignal article credit to www.nzsportswire.com
Dominant first and third quarters have boosted the Wellington Saints to their third win of the National Basketball League (NBL) season.
Despite scoring just nine points in the fourth period, the Mills Albert Saints held on for a low-scoring 78-72 Sal’s NBL victory over the Logik Franklin Bulls at Wellington's TSB Arena on Thursday night.
The job was done offensively early as the Saints jumped out to a 32-19 lead after the first period, then defensively as they held the Bulls to just eight points in the third quarter, extending their advantage to 22 points.
The Saints led by 27 points with 6:15 remaining before completely switching off, not scoring again until four late Shaun Bruce free-throws iced the game, with the Bulls finishing the game on a 27-4 run to ensure a couple of nervous moments.
Australian guard Shaun Bruce scored a game-high 21 points (6/15 FG, 3/5 3pt, 6/6 FT) to go with six rebounds and five assists, while American centre Nick Muszynski recorded a double-double, with 14 points (6/9 FG), 10 boards and two steals.
Wings Hyrum Harris and Nick Marshall also scored 14 points, Harris going 6-of-14 from the field and adding six rebounds, five assists and five steals, and Marshall 6-of-17, along with eight boards. Despite a tough shooting night, Izayah Le'afa managed eight assists and four steals.
German centre Till Gloger led the Bulls with 19 points (7/11 FG, 5/6 FT), while naturalised veteran Marcel Jones chimed in with 15 points (6/8 FG, 3/4 3pt) and six boards off the bench.
American guard Tae Hardy had 11 points, five assists and two steals, and the Cameron brothers, Flynn and Tobias, each scored 10 points. Flynn Cameron also had six boards, five assists and two steals.
The Saints (3-2) head to Palmerston North on Sunday (tip-off 3pm) to take on the Manawatū Jets (3-2), while the Bulls (4-2) host the Canterbury Rams (4-1) next on Wednesday (tip-off 7pm).
The Saints went 2-for-2 on the night, with Rangimarie Dougall-Mita top-scoring with nine points and six rebounds in a 32-24 Sky Broadband Rapid League win over the Bulls.
The Saints now head on the road to Palmerston North this Sunday, then continue their road trip with the Southern Swing before heading home for Easter Monday Hoops to play The Nelson Giants, you can get your tickets here
Wellington Saints 78 (Shaun Bruce 21, Hyrum Harris 14, Nick Marshall 14, Nick Muszynski 14) Franklin Bulls 72 (Till Gloger 19, Marcel Jones 15, Tae Hardy 11, Flynn Cameron 10, Tobias Cameron 10). 1Q: 32-19, HT: 51-37, 3Q: 69-45
