The Tasmania JackJumpers have continued their unlikely emergence as a top-four NBL contender after defeating the Brisbane Bullets 84-82 to claim their fifth win in their past six games.
Both teams entered Saturday's contest at Nissan Arena off the back of dramatic victories on Thursday night and the home side set up another cliffhanger with a late burst after falling behind by 14 POINTS midway through the fourth quarter.
Fresh off his match-winning three-pointer to cap a stunning overtime victory over the New Zealand Breakers, Anthony Drmic landed another long-range bomb in the dying seconds to cut Tasmania's lead to one.
But the JackJumpers held firm to close out their third successive victory on the road and move within one win of the fourth-placed Illawarra Hawks.
Josh Magette and Jack McVeigh each scored 15 points and Josh Adams added 14 as Tasmania recorded their 12th win of the season.
"It wasn't pretty, it was just gritty," coach Scott Roth said after the NBL newcomers backed up Thursday's historic win over the Wildcats in Perth to keep the pressure on the Hawks and fifth-placed South East Melbourne Phoenix.
"It was a heck of a trip to go basically seven hours in one direction to get over from Sydney to Perth, and then come back this way for four-and-a-half more hours, no exit rows and sitting in aisles and planes that are packed.
"They just come in with their lunch pail and do the work and a tremendous team effort ... we talk about defending the island and these guys are living up to it."
Magette sparked Tasmania's offence in the first quarter by making four straight baskets to trigger an 8-0 run as the visitors closed the term ahead 24-16.
The JackJumpers extended their lead to 12 in the second period but Robert Franks provided the home side with a timely boost as the Bullets cut the margin to 46-43 at halftime.
But Brisbane could not maintain their momentum after the main break with Tasmania grinding their way to a 63-58 advantage after a dour third quarter then blowing the lead out to 14 with a 11-2 start to the final term.
"We started the fourth (quarter) with four turnovers - I think that was the determining factor," coach James Duncan said after the Bullets dropped their third successive home game.
"We had five turnovers in that fourth and you can't do that, obviously, in a close, tight game like that.
"We're turning over the ball, we're not getting on the rim and ultimately that was our downfall."
