The Otago Nuggets are still undefeated at home this season and maintained their perfect record with a thrilling 95-93 win against the Manawatu Jets tonight.
A bumper crowd of 2300 was treated to an exciting finale. With the scores locked at 93 apiece and 7.8 seconds remaining in regulation time, the game seemed destined for overtime.
The captain Mark Dickel inbounded the ball to BJ Anthony, who turned and looked for space before offloading to Dickel. The veteran point guard took the ball to the hoop and put up a desperate lay-up attempt. It missed but he got fouled in the process and drilled both attempts from the free throw line.
The Jets had 2.6 seconds left to find a basket to send the game into overtime but even speedy guard Chris Hagan (18 points) could not get up court that rapidly.
Akeem Wright top-scored for the Nuggets with 28 points and he also grabbed 12 rebounds. Antoine Tisby was solid with 19 points and seven boards.
But when the game was on the line, it was Dickel who stepped up with 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Anthony scored seven of his 17 points down the stretch as well.
Marcel Jones top-scored for the Jets with 25 points but he was the villain who fouled Dickel.
Nick Horvath's battle with Tisby lived up to its billing. Horvath had better numbers with 22 points and nine rebounds but the contest was pretty even.
