Krebs, Travers shine in first United hit-out

Tanner Krebs' first hit out in Melbourne United colours showed what an addition he could be with his shooting prowess for NBL24 and he was just one of the highlights of Saturday night's 87-59 win over the California Baptist Lancers.

The Lancers are on a trip to Australia which includes three matches against NBL opponents this week. It got underway on Thursday night with the Brisbane Bullets opening up their own pre-season campaign winning 75-48.

It was then Melbourne's turn on Saturday night at the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre, and it was a chance for United to unveil some of their new signings ahead of NBL24 which will be all about redemption after missing the finals last season.

While Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Chris Goulding, Flynn Cameron, the injured Jo Lual-Acuil and his replacement Rob Loe were among those not there for United, the players that were showed exciting signs in the 28-point victory.

It was Tanner Krebs who lit it up especially in the first half as he looks to embrace the move south after spending his first three seasons in the NBL at the Brisbane Bullets. He ended the night with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists with 4/7 shooting from three-point territory.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tanner Krebs leads all scoring with 15-points at the half against <a href="https://twitter.com/CBUmbb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBUmbb</a> ??<br><br>Catch all the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> pre-season action live on the NBL app ? <a href="https://t.co/TSpRK2umcA">https://t.co/TSpRK2umcA</a> <a href="https://t.co/WAn0UBE7gH">pic.twitter.com/WAn0UBE7gH</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1690308700056244224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Former Perth Wildcats star and Cleveland Cavaliers NBA draftee Luke Travers was another pulling on the United uniform for the first time. He spent plenty of time with the ball in his hands too and produced 11 points, seven assists, six rebounds, six blocks and three steals in an exciting all-round showing.

Another new face is Kyle Bowen with the West Australian product joining Melbourne out of Saint Mary's University. He ended up with six points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.

He might not  be a new face, but he is like a new recruit after missing all last season with an Achilles rupture and Next Star Ariel Hukporti produced seven points and four rebounds in 17 and-a-half minutes for Melbourne.

Zac Triplett also contributed 11 points, Brad Newley 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, Joel Fowell nine points and three assists, and Daniel Poelsma six points and two rebounds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LT got ?<br><br>Catch all the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> pre-season action live on the NBL app ? <a href="https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2">https://t.co/TSpRK2tOn2</a> <a href="https://t.co/o5iIFnBw6d">pic.twitter.com/o5iIFnBw6d</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1690319108842156032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile for California Baptist, Brantly Stevenson top-scored with 14 points and two assists while Yvan Ouedraogo contributed 10 points and eight rebounds, Dominique Daniels Jr 11 points and two boards, and Scotty Washington eight points and two rebounds.

California Baptist will now back up on Sunday afternoon up against the South East Melbourne Phoenix as well as part of their trip down under. United will have another couple of hit outs before the NBL Blitz against the Tasmania JackJumpers on August 28 and 30.

NBL24 PRE-SEASON GAME

MELBOURNE UNITED 87 (Krebs 22, Newley 11, Travers 11, Triplett 11)
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST LANCERS 59 (Stevenson 14, Daniels Jr 11, Ouedraogo 10) 

BOX SCORE