Humphries stars, but 36ers fall to JackJumpers

Adelaide 36ers lost their first home game of the NBL25 season, going down 77-73 to Tasmania JackJumpers at the Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

In front of a sixth straight sellout crowd, the home side fought back from a 13-point final quarter deficit, but were unable to make the big plays down the stretch in the four-point defeat.

Big man Isaac Humphries was huge in the final quarter, scoring nine of his game-high 19 points in the last 10 minutes to go with 11 rebounds and three steals, while captain DJ Vasiljevic led from the front with 16 points.

Starting for the first time this season, Jarell Martin scored all of his seven points in the final stanza, but fouled out late.

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Jason Cadee and Martin stepped into the starting line-up for suspended import duo of Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell, but the visitors were on target early, connecting on their first five field goals to open an early 10-4 lead.   

Cadee looked to attack the hoop, finding Sunday Dech (seven points, three rebounds) for a layup as head coach Mike Wells unleashed local duo Keanu Rasmussen (nine points, four assists) and Ben Griscti.

Rasmussen scored on his first play with a tough drive, and when Nick Marshall converted inside, then Griscti tipped in a Vasiljevic miss to reduce the JackJumpers’ lead to16-14.

Vasiljevic scored five straight points, Dech and Rasmussen made tough baskets inside but Tasmania took a 29-23 lead into the first break.

Marshall opened the second quarter swishing a three-pointer, then Martin found Humphries inside, but the JackJumpers continued to hold the lead at 33-28.

Lat Mayen (six points, eight rebounds) drove baseline for his first points, then Rasmussen connected on his first three-pointer and when Vasiljevic scored a tough basket with his left hand, scores were tied at 35-35.

The JackJumpers responded after taking a time out, keeping the home side to just two points in almost three minutes of play before Humphries threw down a huge slam dunk.

Humphries was again in the action, tipping in a Vasiljevic miss on the buzzer as the JackJumpers took a 43-42 lead into the main interval.

Tasmania opened the second half with a 6-0 run as the home side missed their first four shots before Dech swished a three-pointer in the corner.

Vasiljevic then scored on consecutive possessions, Adelaide going on a 7-0 run to tie the game for the second time in the contest at 49-49.

The JackJumpers again took the lead after back-to-back three-pointers from Milton Doyle, then Vasiljevic scored another tough basket, but Tasmania scored five points late in the third quarter to take a 60-53 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Rasmussen then Mayen scored to open the last quarter, but the JackJumpers through Majok Deng opened their biggest lead of the game at 72-59 with six minutes remaining.

Adelaide scored 14 of the game’s next 16 points to cut the margin to one (74-73) on a big Humphries dunk, but that’s as close as the home side got, who did not lead at any time during the match.

The 36ers now face a double header next round, on the road to Brisbane to face the Bullets next Friday night before backing up at home on Sunday afternoon against Perth Wildcats.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 77 (Macdonald 15, Magnay 15, Drmic 14) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 73 (Humphries 19, Vasiljevic 16) at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

BOX SCORE