JackJumpers win to open Intercontinental Cup

Just like he did in Game 5 of the NBL24 Championship Series, Jordon Crawford lit it up briefly for the Tasmania JackJumpers in an 81-59 victory in Singapore to open the FIBA Intercontinental Cup against Quimsa.

The 22-point win over their Argentinian opponents keeps the JackJumpers alive in the race to add another championship already before their title defence begins in NBL25 next Thursday.

The JackJumpers are the first Australian club to take part in the annual tournament of championship winning teams, and even after losing twice at the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast, they started impressively on Friday.

Tasmania arrived in Singapore to take on a Quimsa team having already played on Thursday with the Argentinian outfit losing to the G League United, and the JackJumpers started well by going inside to Olympian Will Magnay.

Milton Doyle also dropped a big three-pointer to help the JackJumpers to the 34-24 lead after a low-scoring opening half having held Quimsa to 33 per cent field goal shooting and nine turnovers.

Jordon Crawford had nine points to half-time and then hit five points quickly to start the second half to help Tasmania's lead get out to as much as 17 points, and still being up 10 by three quarter-time.

The Tasmania lead grew to 23 points in the fourth quarter and settled at 22 on the back of pulling down 47 rebounds to 31 including 18 at the offensive end for 11 second chance points.

The JackJumpers did force Quimsa into 17 turnovers and held them to shooting 35 per cent from the field with Crawford ending up top-scoring with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists on 7/10 from the foul line.

Will Magnay was a strong presence with 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks with Milton Doyle adding 12 points, three boards and three steals, Reuben Te Rangi eight points and seven rebounds, and new import Craig Sword six points on 3/5 shooting.

Patricio Tabarez and Juan Brussino scored 11 points each for Quimsa while Tavario Miller pulled down 11 rebounds.

The JackJumpers back up in Singapore again on Saturday against G League United and a win there would see them into Sunday's final before heading to Perth for the NBL25 opener on Thursday against Melbourne United.

FIBA INTERCONTINENTAL CUP – SINGAPORE 2024

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Crawford 15, Doyle 12, Magnay 12)

QUIMSA 59 (Brussino 11, Tabarez 11, Sansimoni 9)

BOX SCORE