The Adelaide 36ers withstood a big comeback by the Perth Wildcats to secure a 91-86 win in Friday night NBL action.
Down 20 at the half, the travelling Wildcats cut the lead to three in the final stages, but were unable to complete the unlikely comeback to drop their first game of the 2013-14 NBL season.
Five Shawn Redhage points over the final few minutes helped cut a double-digit lead down to five before a Jermaine Beal three made it a three-point game with 1:08 remaining, but a blown, wide open Matt Knight layup off an inbounds pass with 25 seconds remaining and some timely free throws by the 36ers sealed the result.
Import Gary Ervin and local product Daniel Johnson were instrumental in the win, scoring 22 and 24 points respectively while combining for 10 rebounds. Johnson in particular stood out as the 36ers turned a four-point quartertime margin into a 20-point blowout by halftime.
Perth remain top of the NBL table with an 8-1 overall record, but the 36ers closed the gap with Friday’s win, moving up to 7-2 overall.
Beal led the Wildcats with 18 points and Ennis added 13 and nine rebounds.
In Friday’s other result, Tom Abercrombie led the Breakers past past Townsville with a timely late three, handing New Zealand an 81-74 win.
The Breakers went 11 from 24 from down town while the visiting Crocodiles managed just 3 from 13 attempts.
Abercrombie finished with 24 points while Daryl Corletto added 16.
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