Goulding, United Overrun Spirited Breakers

Melbourne United superstar Chris Goulding made history back in his childhood home state in his team’s hard earned 89-78 victory over the New Zealand Breakers at MyState Bank Arena.  

Tasmanian-born Goulding could not have scripted a better location to reach 5000 NBL points than his hometown state as he became just the second current player to reach that milestone behind Adelaide's Daniel Johnson. 

What made it surreal for the two-time Melbourne United championship winning captain was the fact the opponents were the Breakers in Hobart and the fans were nowhere to be seen, due to last-minute relocation of this game. 

What will matter most to Goulding is that United got the 'W' but the Breakers did make them have to work hard for it as they looked to back up their opening win of the season in Brisbane on Sunday.

Goulding's 5000th point came at the free-throw line, which gave United a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Breakers would never pull back that lead and United prevailed 89-78. But make no mistake, United earned this win the hard way. 

The Breakers led 39-38 at half-time with United shooting 16.7 per cent from three-point range (1/6, the solo three coming from an unlikely source in Matthew Dellavedova) at that stage.

However, once Melbourne's shooting clicked in the second half they looked a different team. By the time the game was over, United’s field-goal percentage was 57 per cent and their three-point shooting ticked over 30 per cent. 

Jo Lual-Acuil was an enormous presence for the winners, both literally on the floor and in the box score.

Although he gifted the state of Tasmania free Hungry Jack’s burgers with a pair of missed free-throws in the second quarter, he was a man on a mission finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds. 

After passing up a three-pointer in the third quarter, Lual-Acuil rolled to the basket, finished at the rim and let out a roar. It was awesome to watch. 

Dellavedova was his gritty best leading the Melbourne offence, and was backed up by Shea Ili who didn’t miss a beat off the bench. Dellavedova was particularly effective in the second half of the match, and finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. 

Nigerian Olympian Caleb Agada posted 14 points for Melbourne United, and hit an important three-pointer in the third quarter that came during a frustrating shooting stretch and saw United grab four offensive rebounds before the ball finally found its way to his hands. 

United coach Dean Vickerman was especially pleased with his team's dominance on the offensive glass with 19 o-boards to six and with 48 points to 28 from the Breakers.

"Probably one of the lowest three-point attempts we’ve had in this effort. Their guards were aggressive and they came wanting to pass the ball better than we did," Vickerman said. 

"A big part of the game was points in the paint, 50 to 25 in rebounding was a telling statistic. We were a little more patient as we came down and used the ball screen and read the switches and looked for interior passes. We saw Shea Ili really attack the paint and create opportunities. 

"Jo, Chris and Jack White were a big part of creating that lead in the fourth quarter. Hopefully we grow that depth where multiple different people can close out games for us when needed."

For the Breakers, Peyton Siva continues to improve after an injury-interrupted start to his life in the NBL.

The 31-year-old import, who was part of the Louisville Cardinals’ fairytale run to the NCAA Championship in 2012, finished with 19 points, five assists and led the offence superbly. 

It helped when his team shot well surrounding him (13/31, 31 per cent from three), but a large swath of those came earlier in the game. 

Breakers coach Dan Shamir felt giving up 18 offensive boards while only collecting six themselves and 25 total rebounds for the night was pivotal in the end result.

"Melbourne United is doing a good job on the defensive end. My feeling is you need to win games like that with 78 points. We gave up 18 offensive rebounds, which makes it tough," Shamir said.

"It is hard to be happy when you lose. I am struggling to be happy even when you win. The positive is this is second game in a row we have Peyton. 

"It wasn’t a perfect game today. The challenge keeps on growing but the team is functioning well. That is hats off. Everywhere I have been I don’t know a lot of places that would survive this, but we are. This is what we keep focusing on, the results. Even though they are not coming. We keep pushing on."

United’s determination on the boards, registering an eye-popping 50-to-25 advantage in rebounds was a huge factor in this game. Showing how deep this team goes, Mason Peatling grabbed 12 of those off the bench and was strong in the fourth quarter. 

In the end, it was Melbourne United’s night as Goulding made history. And you get the feeling this team and its champion player have plenty to achieve yet. 

Both teams back up again on Sunday as Round 7 continues with United facing the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong before the Breakers take on the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 7

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 78 (Martin 20, Siva 19, Besson 17)

MELBOURNE UNITED 89 (Goulding 23, Lual-Acuil 22, Agada 16)

BOX SCORE