9 Jan 2012

Breakers move to equal first in ANBL

5:53 am on 9 January 2012

The New Zealand Breakers basketball side have moved to equal first on the Australian national league ladder after a 90-79 win over the Melbourne Tigers in Melbourne.

A 19-3 run in the third quarter saw the Breakers turn a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead at the last break, and they maintained the momentum to win for the eleventh time from 16 games

The Tigers were in control until midway through the third period when Thomas Abercrombie turned the game in New Zealand's favour.

Abercrombie exploded for 14 points in the period after having just one in the first half.

New Zealand continued to pour it on in the final quarter, leading by as many as 23 points before coasting to the 11-point win.

The Breakers closed the game out by out-scoring Melbourne 45-25 after the Tigers had led 54-45.

New Zealand had six players register double figures, with Abercrombie leading the way with 18, while former Tigers star Darryl Corletto added 15.

Melbourne's loss sees them drop out of the top four, with Townsville and Cairns moving ahead on the ladder.