Gutsy Road Win, Sees The Saints Move to 2nd On The Ladder

The Mills Albert Wellington Saints continued their strong start to the 2025 season with a gritty 93–92 win on the road over the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets on Sunday night.

In a back-and-forth battle at Fly Palmy Arena, it was the Saints’ composure down the stretch and a monster night from Hyrum Harris that proved the difference. Harris flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists—his leadership on both ends of the floor once again setting the tone for the visitors.

American big man Nicholas Muszynski delivered a crucial double-double of his own, contributing 18 points, 10 rebounds, and a pair of assists while anchoring the paint against a physical Jets frontcourt.

The Saints led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, but the home side, led by Tall Blacks veteran Corey Webster (22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and forward Miles Gibson (21 points, 8 rebounds), stormed back to make it a one-point game with just seconds left. A final defensive stop sealed the win for the Saints, who improve their record to 3-1 on the season.

“It was a gutsy win,” said Saints Head Coach Aaron Young. “Credit to the Jets—they pushed us all the way. But I’m proud of how our group stayed locked in and executed when it mattered.”

With the win in Palmerston North in the rearview mirror, the Saints now turn their attention to a key stretch of the season—the southern swing. The team will head south for clashes against the Southland Sharks and Otago Nuggets, two crucial matchups as the Saints look to build momentum and keep pace at the top of the standings.

“We love this part of the schedule,” Harris said post-game. “It’s always a challenge heading down south, but this group is ready. We’re building something.”

The Saints face the Sharks in Invercargill this Thursday before heading to Dunedin to take on the Nuggets on Saturday night.