Recap | Davison, Mennenga brilliance not quite enough

Sam Mennenga had 18 points in the first quarter, Carlin Davison nine assists in the opening half and there were encouraging Nelson Weidemann signs first up, but it wasn’t quite enough for the BNZ Breakers with the Tasmania JackJumpers winning 98-92.

The Breakers arrived at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart on Sunday fresh off an inspired Ignite Cup victory in Canberra against the Sydney Kings on Wednesday and trying to keep that momentum going in their third game of this current road trip.

Mennenga then put up 18 points on perfect shooting in the first quarter and he had 23 to half-time and Davison was already up to six points and nine assists.

In the end, though, the difference in the game was the JackJumpers winning the possession battle on the back of collecting 19 offensive rebounds to nine, just 10 turnovers to 18, and getting to the free-throw line 33 times to just 18 from the Breakers.

Despite that, it remained a tight contest and New Zealand had a chance to snatch the game but ended up six points short to now sit on a 4-4 record.

Mennenga continued his dominant form for the Breakers with 36 points, 11 rebounds and three assists on 15/19 shooting from the floor, 3/4 from downtown and 3/5 at the free-throw line.

Davison was brilliant as point guard once more with 17 points and 11 assists while also shooting 6/8 overall including making both three-point attempts.

Mojave King continued to impress as well with 18 points and four rebounds on 4/8 three-point shooting while DJ Vasiljevic contributed seven points, Kouat Noi four points, and Charles Bediako four points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

German guard Nelson Weidemann also made his debut as an injury replacement and showed encouraging signs in 16 minutes with six points on 2/3 three-point shooting and two steals despite fouling out.

It was an entertaining opening quarter from both teams with the Breakers going into quarter-time with the narrow 32-31 advantage after the JackJumpers had earlier led by as much as five.

Sam Mennenga was playing like a man possessed with 18 points already on perfect 7/7 shooting from the field including two from the outside and 2/2 at the free-throw line.

The scoring rate dried up a little for both teams in the second quarter but it remained a tight affair with the JackJumpers going into half-time with the narrow 53-51 lead.

Mennenga was up to 23 points on 9/10 shooting for New Zealand while Davison continued his stunning point guard form with six points and nine assists already.

Things turned into a bit more of a grind in the third quarter with Tasmania adding just the 17 points but that was enough to extend their lead to 70-65 by three quarter-time.

The Breakers managed just 14 points in the quarter on 5/12 shooting with another five turnovers and with Tasmania collecting seven more offensive rebounds, and with Mennenga only managing one shot attempt for two more points to be up to 25.

Tasmania then built the biggest lead of the game early in the fourth with a pair of free throws to Taran Armstrong but the Breakers responded to draw back level soon after following a triple from Davison and bucket to Mennenga.

Kouat Noi then put the Breakers in front briefly before the JackJumpers responded with a 6-2 including a Magnay dunk off an o-board.

David Johnson made his fourth three of the game with five minutes to go to put the home team up by a game-high eight points and completing the six-point victory.

The Breakers will have a full week back at home before hitting the road again next Sunday to play the Cairns Taipans in what will be Reuben Te Rangi's 400th NBL appearance.

BNZ Breakers 92 lost to Tasmania JackJumpers 98

MyState Bank Arena, Hobart
Sunday 18 October, 2026

Sam Mennenga – 36 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 15/19 FG
Mojave King – 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4/8 3PT
Carlin Davison – 17 points, 11 assists, 6/8 FG
DJ Vasiljevic – 7 points
Nelson Weidemann – 6 points, 2 steals, 2/3 3PT

Next Home game
BNZ Breakers v Adelaide 36ers

Spark Arena
Friday 30 October, 2026
7:30pm tipoff (NZ time)
Tickets available by clicking here