South East Melbourne have coughed up a 23-point lead earlier than producing some late heroics to safe an exhilarating 105-99 NBL win over the Adelaide 36ers.
The Phoenix led 66-43 early within the third time period of Sunday’s conflict at John Cain Enviornment, and nonetheless led 75-54 halfway via that quarter.
However a surprising 19-0 run impressed by Montrezl Harrell (25 factors, 11 rebounds) helped shut the margin to 2 factors by three-quarter time, and Adelaide surged to a five-point lead early within the final.
The Phoenix hit again to take the lead, however Adelaide seemed set to stage the scores with 20 seconds to go when Lat Mayen drove to the ring.
An expertly timed block from Joe Wieskamp denied Mayen, and Wieskamp put the cherry on prime by sprinting down the court docket and receiving a go to attain the sealing basket.
The win lifted the Phoenix (16-12) into fourth spot, only one win behind the Perth Wildcats (17-11).
Adelaide (13-15) stay sixth, with their loss retaining the play-in hopes of Tasmania (12-16) alive.
Nathan Sobey top-scored for the Phoenix with 26 factors, whereas Owen Foxwell shot 5-of-9 from the perimeter on the best way to 22 factors.
Matt Damage was additionally influential with 18 factors and 10 rebounds.
Harrell was merely unstoppable throughout Adelaide’s second-half surge, whereas the 36ers have been additionally nicely served by Kendric Davis (23 factors) and Jason Cadee (15 factors).
Further safety was referred to as to the Adelaide bench within the first quarter after a few followers began baiting Harrell, who was fast to voice his displeasure.
It got here after Harrell was suspended for 3 video games earlier this season after being concerned in a bodily confrontation with Melbourne United followers on the identical enviornment.
There was no biffo this time, with the followers shortly promising to behave themselves.
Sobey scored 11 factors within the opening time period to provide the Phoenix a 30-23 lead on the first break.
The house aspect continued to feast on Adelaide’s disjointed defence within the second time period, with a late triple from Ben Ayre giving South East Melbourne a dominant 61-43 lead at halftime.
Adelaide did not tally a single offensive rebound within the first half, whereas the Phoenix feasted with 12 of their very own.
The 36ers lastly flicked a swap early within the third quarter, with Harrell’s work within the paint and the efficiency of Davis sparking an epic run that noticed Adelaide seize the lead within the final quarter.
Sobey’s three-pointer with three minutes remaining within the match proved an enormous turning level, with the Phoenix holding their nerve when it mattered most.
