Breakers prevail after Snakes lose Edwards

Rob Edwards was on track to inspire the Cairns Taipans to a drought breaking win but the New Zealand Breakers took back control after he fouled out with Matt Mooney leading the way for the 77-69 road victory.

Even though the Breakers were on top for a lot of the evening at the Cairns Convention Centre, the Snakes found themselves in front for the first time early in the fourth quarter and it was Edwards leading the way.

The superstar scorer returned from suspension and had 33 points on 13/23 shooting, but he also had four fouls to his name as he made a drive opposed by Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

He was called for the offensive foul and his night was over with the challenge unsuccessful, and after falling three points down soon after, New Zealand took control of the contest for good.

The Breakers would go on a 12-0 scoring run with Mooney scoring eight of those points on his way to 15 points, three assists and three steals for the game.

New Zealand ended up scoring the eight-point win to improve to a 7-3 record and bounce back impressively from last week's loss to Tasmania on the back of 19 offensive rebounds for 21 second chance points.

Sam Mennenga produced 12 points, three rebounds and two assists against his team of last season with Parker Jackson-Cartwright adding 11 points, seven boards and five assists, and Next Star Karim Lopez another nine points and three rebounds.

"It wasn't always pretty but we found a way," proud New Zealand coach Petteri Koponen said.

"We had different guys on him; he made tough plays, kept them in the game.

"That (fifth foul) was a huge play, right there and we went from there."

It's an eighth straight defeat for the Taipans who are now 3-9 heading into the FIBA break and along with Edwards' 33 points, Akoldah Gak had 11 points and eight rebounds, Jonah Antonio nine points and four boards, and Taran Armstrong five points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

"He (Edwards) was keeping us in it ... at some stages the only reason the scoreboard was ticking over," Cairns coach Adam Forde said.

"We've got another fourth quarter fade-out, on the back of shot selection and second chance points.

"No positives right now ... just keep plugging away and get better from it."

The Breakers were determined to hit back from last Saturday's 19-point road loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers and they scored the first four points and soon led 7-3 thanks to a three-pointer to Grant Anticevich who started with Jonah Bolden out injured.

That became 11-5 following a dunk for New Zealand to Karim Lopez but Taipans three balls to Rob Edwards and Taran Armstrong brought the home team back into the contest.

Former Taipan Sam Mennenga responded with his own triple for the Breakers and when he hit another in the final minute of the first quarter, it was New Zealand on top 28-23 after one.

The Breakers lead was out to 10 midway through the second quarter when Matt Mooney knocked down the three ball and from there they went into the break on top 52-42.

New Zealand were up 10 despite the 22 points for Cairns from Rob Edwards with the Breakers pulling down 25 rebounds to 11 including 14 at the offensive end for 14 second chance points.

Cairns locked down New Zealand in the third quarter and held the Breakers to just 11 points after they had just three last Saturday against Tasmania, and that helped get the Taipans back within four by three quarter-time.

The Taipans then scored the first four points of the final period to tie scores up after a dunk from Akoldah Gak before a three ball from Jonah Antonio put them in front for the first time in the contest.

Soon after, Edwards' night was done with his fifth foul when called for the offensive on Parker Jackson-Cartwright which happened with the Snakes up one with 5:50 remaining.

The Breakers were soon back on top thanks to a triple from Mooney before he stretched the lead to five on a three-point play with 2:45 that also led to Tanner Groves fouling out for Cairns.

Freddie Gillespie stretched the lead to seven with two minutes to go and from there the Breakers went on to win by eight to go into the FIBA break with winning form.

Both teams now don't play again until after the FIBA window with the Breakers first up on Thursday week away to the Illawarra Hawks before the Snakes are at home to the Sydney Kings on the Friday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

CAIRNS TAIPANS 69 (Edwards 33, Gak 11, Antonio 9)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 77 (Mooney 15, Mennenga 12, Jackson-Cartwright 11)

BOX SCORE