The bubble burst for Melbourne United last Friday night when they were handed there first loss for the season, while their opponents, the Townsville Crocodiles, are coming off a bad loss as well. Join The Roar from 7:15pm (AEDT) for live scores and updates.
United’s impressive 9-0 start to the season come to a halt as they were comprehensive outplayed by the Taipans 82-70.
Melbourne were unable to hit big threes when required, and some of their stars really struggled – Chris Goulding had a quiet game, as did Daniel Kickert and Todd Blanchfield.
The Crocs are sitting on the bottom of the NBL ladder with a 3-8 record after 11 games. Their last match was an 89-65 loss to the Adelaide 36ers, where Brian Conklin had 21 points, Jordair Jett 12, while the rest of the team battled to make an impact.
Worryingly for the Crocs, if Conklin or Jett don’t score, who else will stand up? It’s a common theme this season, only three players on the Crocs’ roster average over 10 points a game – Conklin, Jett and Clint Stendl, who is averaging 11 points a game.
United have won the last two games against the Crocs and lead 3-2 over the last five games.
Prediction
United to bounce back in front of a big crowd at home.
Melbourne by 15.
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
United need to find another way,the constant three shooting will hurt when they shoot it the way they are at the moment,need to work it inside more,Warrick will help with that
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Game Wrap: The Townsville crocs have pulled off an amazing win on the road to defeat Melbourne United at Hisense Arena in front of a big crowd. Jumping out of the blocks against a sluggish United the Crocs led at quarter time 25-19 and showed they were up for the contest despite missing Brian Conklin and Luke Schenscher. United looked rattled and wanting to sit back and hit the easy three to get the job done but the 1st quarter showed that there opponent was up for the contest. Second quarter had the Crocs putting a strangle hold on the game and silencing the home crowd by winning the quarter 22-12 to take a 47-31 lead into the main break. United tried hard to fight back in the third but by the end of the third they had still lost the quarter by two and trailed by a massive 18 points 51-69. United come out swinging in the last quarter and kept coming led by Chris Goulding 22 points, Kickert 17 points and Stephen Holt with 15 but weren't able to head the crocs and lost 78-82 . For the crocs Kay had 14 points and Steindl 13 in a team performance to keep there season alive. United take to the road for a massive clash against the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday to try to turn a two game losing streak, Hakim Warrick is expected to suit up. Jason Dowlin
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Wow United found it tough going tonight and need to find away to score other then shooting three's, a good zone Defence has them battling and will need to find an answer. Game wrap to come. Thank you for joining me for this game, NBL action continues this weekend on The Roar so make sure you check it out. For now good night and enjoy your weekend. Melbourne United 78 Def by Townsville Crocs 82
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES 30/68 (44%) FIELD GOALS 32/66 (48%) 14/35 (40%) 3 POINTS 9/18 (50%) 4/9 (44%) FREE THROWS 9/17 (52%) 36 REBOUNDS 32 18 ASSISTS 15 1 STEALS 3 2 BLOCKS 2 8 TURNOVERS 4 15 (11) FOULS (FOULS ON) 11 (15) 24 POINTS IN THE PAINT 38 12 SECOND CHANCE POINTS 12 5 POINTS OFF TURNOVERS 9Scoring DevelopmentMELBOURNE UNITED TOWNSVILLE CROCODILESQ1Q2Q3Q401020-20-10SHOOTING STATISTICSMEL 16/33 2P 14/35 3P 4/9 FTTSV 23/48 2P 9/18 3P 9/17 FT
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
MELBOURNE UNITED STARTERS FG REB AS ST BS PTS S. Holt 6-10 5 8 0 0 15 T. Blanchfield 3-12 10 0 0 0 8 D. Kickert (C) 7-15 7 3 0 0 17 M. Majok 1-2 5 1 0 1 2 C. Goulding 7-15 2 2 0 0 22 BENCH FG REB AS ST BS PTS E. Golong 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 I. Hadziomerovic 3-6 1 2 1 0 7 C. Patton 1-2 1 0 0 0 2 N. Tomlinson 1-2 1 1 0 0 3 K. Adnam 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Hill 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 G. Jackson 1-3 4 1 0 1 2 TEAM TOTALS 30-68 36 18 1 2 78 Coach: Dean Demopoulos Points from Turnovers: 5 Points in the Paint: 24 Assistant: Mike Kelly, Simon Mitchell Second Chance Points: 12 Fast Break Points: 2TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES STARTERS FG REB AS ST BS PTS J. Jett 4-13 4 2 1 0 11 M. Young 3-7 4 1 0 2 6 N. Kay 6-9 9 3 0 0 14 M. Norton 6-11 2 1 0 0 15 C. Steindl 4-11 7 3 1 0 13 BENCH FG REB AS ST BS PTS C. Maynard 4-4 3 2 1 0 9 L. Henry 2-3 3 1 0 0 6 M. Djeric 1-4 0 1 0 0 3 H. Froling 2-4 0 1 0 0 5 TEAM TOTALS 32-66 32 15 3 2 82 Coach: Shawn Dennis Points from Turnovers: 9 Points in the Paint: 38 Assistant: Sam Gruggen, Greg Vanderjagt Second Chance Points: 12 Fast Break Points: 0
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Great win by the crocs. Stats and game wrap to come. Stunning win from the crocs without some stars.
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Inbound United. Kickert missed three. Upset of the year. Crocs win on the road against United. Melbourne United 78 Townsville Crocs 82 Time left: Final score
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Steindl gets first free throw. Gets second. Melbourne United 78 Townsville Crocs 82 Time left: 4.1 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Crocs ball. Jett nails a two. United ball. Holt hits a big two. Steindl missed two. Goulding missed three. Jett gets the board. Jett missed two. Goulding fouled going to the hoop. Shooting two. Goulding gets one of two Melbourne United 78 Townsville Crocs 80 Time left: 4.5 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Blanchfield missed three. Crocs ball. Djeric missed three. Kickert missed three. Blanchfield gets the board and hits a two. Turnover. Hadziomerovic hits a two. Here comes United. Missed by Steindl. Blanchfield nails a massive Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Melbourne United 75 Townsville Crocs 78 Time left: 1.42 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Kickert hits a two. Need to stop now. Inbound crocs 4 secs left on the shot clock. Kay hits a two. Kickert drives to the hoop for two. Melbourne United 66 Townsville Crocs 78 Time left: 4 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Norton missed three. Holt fouled . Inbound United hadziomerovic gets a two. Norton is fouled by holt running to the hoop. Gets one of two Melbourne United 64 Townsville Crocs 76 Time left: 4 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Hadziomerovic gets one of two. Foul on Tomlinson. Inbound crocs. Norton gets a two. Tomlinson fouled. Inbound United. Holt missed three. Rebound United. Hadziomerovic missed shot. Melbourne United 62 Townsville Crocs 75 Time left: 5 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
United trying to fight back, still plenty of time left
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Crocs ball. Jett to easy to the hoop for two. Jackson hits a mid range two. Turnover ball. Hadziomerovic is fouled going to the hoop. Time out called. Hadziomerovic to shoot two after the time out. Melbourne United 61 Townsville Crocs 73 Time left: 6 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Gets the first. Gets the second. United ball. Jackson missed two. Jett missed two. Kay missed out back. United ball. Kickert hits a threeeeee. Melbourne United 59 Townsville Crocs 71 Time left: 7 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Holt hits a threeeeeee. Crocs down the floor. Jett fouled going to the hoop. Melbourne United 56 Townsville Crocs 69 Time left: 8 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Inbound ball from crocs. Jett missed two.jackson blocked the ball. United ball. Hadziomerovic hits a two. Jett fouled running to the hoop. Will shoot two free throws. Missed first. Missed second. Melbourne United 53 Townsville Crocs 69 Time left: 9 Quarter: 4th
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Final quarter to start
Jason Dowlin
Roar Guru
Blanchfield gets a three. Maynard hits a two. Holt missed shot. Steindl missed shot on the buzzer. Three quarter time. Melbourne United 51 Townsville Crocs 69 Time left: Three quarter time