More Gus heroics in pre-season Throwdown

There's something about NBL pre-season Throwdowns and once again Angus Glover inspired a spectacular South East Melbourne Phoenix comeback to beat Melbourne United 91-89 after a 17-3 run who lost Joe Ingles in the process.

The past two years has seen some spectacular pre-season Throwdowns including a double overtime classic in 2024 and then Melbourne came from 22 points down last year to also win, but it was an opposite tale this time around at the State Basketball Centre.

Melbourne were leading most of the night including still by 10 at three quarter-time but Glover hit a couple of huge late threes after United had lost 810-game NBA veteran and five-time Olympian Ingles to an apparent calf injury midway through the fourth quarter.

The Phoenix were able to secure the two-point win from there with the fourth quarter a nightmare for United after it had been such an encouraging night up to then for new coach Jacob Chance especially with the chemistry between Luke Travers, Sam Waardenburg and Josh Oduro.

Melbourne were playing their first pre-season game since beating the B League United at HoopCity. Chris Goulding was into the line-up and had six points as part of a 24-15 lead by quarter-time with South East Melbourne only managing to shoot 4/23 in the opening 10 minutes.

The Phoenix found some better offensive groove in the second quarter to put up 26 points on 9/24 shooting even if it was only another 4/17 from behind the arc.

But Angus Glover was up to 12 points and Melbourne's lead was back to just 43-41 by the main break.

United pulled away again in the third quarter with 27 points to 19 on shooting 8/17 to the 6/22 from the Phoenix including another 5/16 from long-range.

Melbourne were still up seven when Ingles hobbled from the floor in his second time in Melbourne colours and ending up with eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

United got back up by 12 a minute later, though, including Goulding draining another three before the Phoenix pulled off a miraculous final four minutes.

South East Melbourne outscored Melbourne 17-3 the rest of the way and it was back-to-back three balls from Glover inside the last minute that were the dagger blows for the eventual two-point triumph.

The Phoenix already had hit outs against B League United and the St Mary's Gaels this pre-season and ended up shooting 17/55 from the outside for the night while collecting 21 offensive rebounds and forcing United into 19 turnovers to get up an extra 28 shot attempts.

Glover ended up going 5/12 from deep for 23 points along with nine rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Next Star Dash Daniels delivered 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals, Jordan Hunter 12 points and five boards, Tanner Krebs 10 points, five rebounds and three steals, and Daniel Foster 10 points and six rebounds.

Import guard D'Shawn Schwartz could never really get involved for just three points on 1/8 shooting in 20 minutes.

The last four minutes might not have been ideal for Melbourne, but things looked good up to then with Josh Oduro producing 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

Luke Travers showed his all-round talents in a second United hit out this pre-season for 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Shea Ili also had 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, Chris Goulding 11 points, Sam Waardenburg eight points, three boards and two assists, and Fabijan Krslovic eight points and six rebounds fresh off being Grand Final MVP for the Norths Bears in their NBL1 East championship.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 91 – MELBOURNE UNITED 89

SE Melbourne Phoenix
Angus Glover – 23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals
Dash Daniels – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Jordan Hunter – 12 points, 5 rebounds
Tanner Krebs – 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Daniel Foster – 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Melbourne United
Josh Oduro – 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
Luke Travers – 14 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Shea Ili – 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Chris Goulding – 11 points, 3 rebounds
Joe Ingles – 8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists