The New Zealand Breakers have come from behind to beat the Townsville Crocodiles 96-84 in Auckland and cement their position at the top of the Australian National Basketball League.
The Breakers guard Rhys Carter in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The hosts overcame a 14-point deficit to record their 12th win from 16 games and stay clear of rivals Cairns and Perth.
Townsville remain sixth.
Guard Corey Webster top-scored for the hosts with a game high 21 points.
Webster scored 13 of those points in the second half as the New Zealanders improved their home record to seven wins and one loss.
It's also the Breakers eighth win from the last nine games.
The Breakers struggled to get the early points, allowing Townsville to get off to a strong start.
The visitors had indicated pre-game they wanted to run the game at their pace to deny the New Zealand club to find their rhythm which they did manage to do.
Trailing 50-44 at half-time, the Breakers restricted the visitors to 14 points in the third quarter to take a one-point lead into the final period.
The hosts then scored 31 points in a one-sided final quarter to seal the result.
The Breakers' reserve guard Rhys Carter scored 19 points and American import point guard Cedric Jackson bagged 13.
Brian Conklin and Clint Steindl both scored 17 for Townsville, whose third successive loss was their eighth from nine matches on the road.
The Crocs conceded 20 turnovers, while the Breakers snatched a remarkable 18 steals.
The table topping Breakers next play the Taipans in Cairns on Sunday.
