But waiting right under the rim was Otago Nuggets battler Geremy McKay.
The 25-year-old power forward shook off a bitterly disappointing performance against the Huskies a week earlier to nab a crucial rebound and basket just when his side needed it.
With 18 seconds remaining, he muscled the ball in to give the Nuggets a 92-88 lead.
Rhys Vague missed a three-point jumper moments later that would have kept the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in the game.
Rodger scooped up the rebound and Josh Aitcheson rounded out the crucial 94-88 win at the Edgar Centre on Saturday night with a couple of free throws.
Isaiah Moss proved again what a silky talent he is with 31 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists. His contribution was absolutely instrumental.
Luke Aston (14) also hit some big shots.
But, despite their fine effort, the game could so easily have slipped away had it not been for McKay popping up under the hoop.
He scored some tough points, too. When the Nuggets ran out of options, it was often left to McKay to bash his way towards the basket.
He finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and at least a couple of new bruises, surely.
It was a critical win for the Nuggets. It lifted them to 9-6 and importantly has kept them in the hunt for the playoffs.
It was also a big turnaround from the 30-point drubbing the Hawks handed out in Napier last month.
Nuggets coach Brent Matehaere was thrilled with the character his team showed.
"Obviously we got a lesson from them last time and from the Huskies last week," he said.
"But they’ve come back and showed what they are made of and that they can match up with top-four teams."
The Nuggets seized control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 27-15 to take a 12-point lead into halftime.
But the Hawks halved the deficit in under a minute. The visiting side upped the tempo and import Devondrick Walker (23 points) suddenly found his range.
He knocked down four three-pointers during the quarter. and the Hawks tipped in 36 points.
The Nuggets, though, were able to limit the damage by making their own shots.
"What was different is we stepped up when they made a run and just kept matching them," Matehaere said.
"They did a great job on Sam [Timmins] but that created some space for Geremy. He did not have a great game last week by anyone’s standards. But he came out and made it count tonight."
"That was a great shot by Richie and I thought it was going in. But Geremy’s got a wee catch and a lay-up and those are the kinds of plays we are talking about — the effort plays. Staying with it and keeping on, keeping on."
The start of the game was delayed by 15 minutes after the lights went out for about 20 minutes.
