The New Zealand Breakers have been beaten 102-92 by the 36ers in their NBL basketball game in Adelaide.
Adelaide import Jerome Randle shot a game-high 37 points to help the homeside overcome a fast-starting Breakers, who held a 10-point lead at quarter-time.
New Zealand Breakers captain Mika Vukona. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The brilliant Randle also had four assists and was well supported by teammates Mitch Creek (14 points, three steals), Daniel Johnson (15 points) and Nathan Sobey (12 points, six assists).
The Breakers' Kirk Penney was imposing with 25 points and Mike Vukona (16 points, five rebounds) and Akil Mitchell (12 points) were prominent but they couldn't prevent Adelaide banking a fourth consecutive victory.
The Breakers, fresh from downing Brisbane on Thursday night to snap a four-game losing streak, stunned the 36ers' parochial crowd with a powerful opening to hold a deserved 34-24 advantage at the first break.
But the visitors lost momentum as Adelaide turned the screws defensively in the second stanza - with four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the period, the 36ers had snuck to the front.
Randle was instrumental in Adelaide's recovery, as was centre Eric Jacobsen who had seven rebounds for the half.
The 36ers took a 49-47 advantage into halftime as the Breakers lamented a series of costly turnovers - a recurring theme recently for the New Zealanders.
The Breakers tidied their efforts in the third quarter and held a four-point buffer midway through, only for the home side to surge again and take a 74-70 lead at the end of the period.
Randle was again the linchpin of a strong final period by the 36ers, who boast seven wins and six losses this season, while the Breakers slip to a seven-nine win-loss record.
The Breakers remain second from bottom on the table with a 7 and 9 record.
-AAP
