Otago Nuggets seemed to record a third defeat, but changed a 14-point deficit to publish a 108-104 win.
It was a game.
Todd Withers knocked down 27 points and took 17 rebounds from his last game by Nuggets this season.
Jose Perez did what she does and entered the paint for 23 points.
Don Carey Jun started slowly, but came to life at the end. He scored 22 points and gave 12 bets.
But with the match on the line, it was the star of Rapid League Patrick Freeman who made the biggest pieces.
It was a great connection by coach Mike Kelly to send the young man.
But Freeman took a theft and stuck three consecutive points from the corner.
Suddenly the game was even 50 seconds.
Matthew Bardsley made a second crucial block on the stretch and Carey ended with a lay-up.
The nuggets had a two -point advantage and had to endure one more play.
Guess who descended the winning rebound of the game.
Freeman. Is who.
You have to feel for Miles Gibson. The Jets Guard poured 30 points and Kenneth Goins posted a double double of 24 points and 13 rebounds.
Corey Webster was influential in the second half and ended with 20 points and 11 assists.
The game was a mountain ride -Russa.
The nuggets started hot.
Jonathan Janssen made a strong impression in the early moments of his role debut.
He drained three consecutive points in the opening minute.
Carey set up the first with a theft.
Withers entered the rim for an early basket key as well.
Nuggets went to a 14-2 advantage in just three minutes.
Perez did what he does best and drew a foul and drained the two.
Withers hit a funeral of one hand.
Who is this team and what they did with the Nuggets side, which was destroyed by 98 to 70 by the Southland Sharks on their last home tour?
The jets finally found some offensive rhythm at the end of the quarter, but lost 32-20 in the break.
The jets adapted in the second spell. Goins slapped a alley and Gibson made a lay-up and added the free move.
The visitors moved away to the lead until Carey knocked down three.
Withers also found its reach and appeared in three more triples.
But Gibson helped keep the jets in touch. He passed another defender to slow another lay-up.
Webster became involved with some elegant units to the rim and a Gibson Gibes jumper reduced the advantage to a point in the interval.
Gibson started the third quarter with his first lack of the game.
But the jets took the lead anyway. Goins arrived at the basket.
Gibson hit three and Withers answered with another and another.
Blink and you will lose a triple in this game.
Webster started the game slowly, but he poured 12 points in the third quarter and Jets led 87-78.
The nuggets had escaped the rhythm and really needed a great defensive effort in the final period.
Goins hit a funeral to emphasize how difficult the road would be.
The game walked away when Gibson was left alone on the edge of the bow and preached it.
But wait, here comes Freeman.
It was a night for him. Hours earlier, he gave the ball for the final seconds to secure a tense victory by 36 to 35 against jets in the league’s quick match.
NBL
The scores
Otago Nuggets
(Todd Withers 27, José Perez 23)
Manawatū jets
(Miles Gibson 30, Kenneth Goins 24)
Room scores: 32-20, 53-52, 78-87
