Recap | Tough Melbourne night for BNZ Breakers

The BNZ Breakers battled hard in their eighth game in Australia already in 11 matches this NBL season but it wasn’t quite to be on Monday night with Melbourne United ending up prevailing 94-74.

The preparation of the game wasn’t ideal for the BNZ Breakers with head coach Gordie Herbert falling unwell in the afternoon and unable to join the team on heading from the hotel to John Cain Arena as a result.

That's when Sebastian Gleim found out he would be coaching the team for the second time in three matches and while the BNZ Breakers did fall 12 points down in the second quarter, they battled back well to be just four down by half-time.

They were then just two points behind when Carlin Davison drained a three ball early in the third quarter to have the momentum.

It was still a two-point game a couple of minutes later when DJ Vasiljevic landed from deep, but then Melbourne went on a 19-6 to close the quarter on the way to the eventual 20-point victory with the BNZ Breakers now having lost four straight at 4-7.

It wasn’t quite the offensive night the BNZ Breakers were hoping for ending up shooting just 38 per cent from the field with 6/30 from the outside and only getting to the foul line 11 times across 40 minutes where they made eight.

Sam Mennenga once again top-scored with 15 points to go with four rebounds and two assists while playing 34 minutes with front court partner Charles Bediako ending up with nine points, 12 rebounds and two steals.

Anzac Rissetto also came in and showed plenty in his seven minutes for eight points and a rebound on 4/6 shooting.

Carlin Davison was the only other BNZ Breakers player to score in double figures with 12 points to go with 10 assists and seven rebounds.

DJ Vasiljevic also had nine points and four rebounds, Parker Jackson-Cartwright six points and four assists, Mojave King six points and three rebounds, Reuben Te Rangi five points and four rebounds, Kouat Noi two points and two boards, and Nelson Weidemann two points and two assists.

Both teams came into the Melbourne Cup eve match up with differing form lines and Melbourne did start the better with 28 points to 19 in the first quarter with Cole Anthony at the forefront of it all.

He was playing frustrated and picked up an early technical as a result, but also put 13 points on the board including hitting all three of his long-range attempts.

On the back of that, Melbourne were shooting 11/21 from the field and 5/8 from deep while the Breakers were shooting 8/17 overall and 1/7 from the outside.

Charles Bediako continued his strong form with another five points and two rebounds with Carlin Davison, Sam Mennenga and DJ Vasiljevic all having four points apiece.

The Melbourne lead got out to 12 points as well in the second quarter and it threatened to get out of hand for the Breakers, but they dug deep leading into half-time.

New Zealand managed to cut United's lead to 43-39 at the break despite still only shooting 16/39 overall and 3/14 from downtown. But Mennenga was up to nine points and Bediako seven with five rebounds.

Anthony's eventful night continued with him having 13 points with five turnovers to half-time while Luke Travers added 10 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Josh Oduro nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Breakers again were doing well to stay in the contest for much of the third quarter and it was just a two-point ball game before United took control.

Melbourne closed out the quarter with a 19-6 run and by three quarter-time were leading 70-55 with Cole up to 18 points on 4/6 three-point shooting while Oduro had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

That lead for United got out to as much as 19 points early in the fourth quarter before they closed out the 20-point victory with an exclamation point with Christian D'Angelo hitting a halfcourt prayer on the buzzer in just the second game of his NBL career.

The BNZ Breakers remain on the road now on Friday night playing the Tasmania JackJumpers in Launceston before returning to Spark Arena the following Friday when they host the Brisbane Bullets.

BNZ Breakers 74 lost to Melbourne United 94

John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Monday 2 November, 2026

Sam Mennenga – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Carlin Davison – 12 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds
DJ Vasiljevic – 9 points, 4 rebounds
Charles Bediako – 9 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals
Anzac Rissetto – 8 points, 4/6 FG

Next Home game
BNZ Breakers v Brisbane Bullets

Spark Arena
Friday 13 November, 2026
7:30pm tipoff (NZ time)
Tickets available by clicking here