Galloway stars again to lead Boomers over gutsy Qatar

• Australia Boomers remain undefeated after a 110-82 win over Qatar
• Jaylin Galloway and Reyne Smith combined for 39 points
• The Boomers trailed for most of the first half before dominating the second half
• How to watch every Boomers 2025 Asia Cup game in Saudi Arabia

Emerging Australian Boomers star Jaylin Galloway has a plan and he's using the 2025 Asia Cup as a stepping stone.

"After having that bit of a taste of the NBA, I definitely want to get back there and I've learned those little steps that I need to improve on to take my game to the next level," he told basketball.com.au last month.

The athletic 22-year-old wing has fully recovered from a shoulder injury and is putting himself in the frame for tournament MVP — a World Cup spot — after another dominant Player of the Game performance in Group A in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, August 8 2025 — to propel the Boomers into the quarter final with a 110-82 win against Qatar.

Galloway, who has signed with the Sydney Kings for NBL26, finished with 24 points in 22 minutes on a red-hot 8-from-10 from the field, including 2-from-3 threes. One of those field goals was a monster right hand and-1 dunk that brought his Boomers teammates on the bench to their feet.

But it wasn't easy against the Qataris save for the late blow-out. The Boomers led just 46-43 at the half-time after being down by as many as five points during the first half.

"It was just effort," Galloway admitted.

"They were working harder than us, it was just little things, work(ing) harder than us. They were just outplaying us

"So we just had to come out, play our way, and just beat them on effort.

"We started off a little slow. They were beating us on the offensive boards, We came out second half, just had to fix a problem. (We) stuck together and came out with the win."

Boomers head coach Adam Caporn inserted William "Davo" Hickey into the line-up early in the third quarter and the Boomers went on a run and with 2:10 to go in the third quarter led 71-56. Hickey was +24 in 22 minutes.

"Good team, tough game," Caporn said.

"Didn't think we started very well defensively, but finished very well defensively — us particularly in the second half of the third quarter.

"(I) thought our starters came back and that put the game away… not away, but turned it for us."

Caporn agreed and said the Boomers need to clean up some key areas of their game ahead of the quarter finals.‍

"Just tactically, we weren't doing a very good job protecting the rim — gave them a lot of free throws," he admitted.

"They had 25 at halftime, which is not a number that we can give up in FIBA in a half, or in any basketball.

"They were one of nine from three, so we didn’t want to give them open three-pointers, but we wanted to make sure that we protected the rim better.

"I thought that was one of the main things that changed, and then as we got stops, we got a bit more of a rhythm offensively, and our energy improved.

"That was the main tactical thing. I was also impressed with our resilience. These games are difficult — that other team, Qatar, is a good team, good talent, and a really good point guard.

"Puts a lot of pressure on you, and he did a good job giving up the ball when we trapped him at the start of the game and brought other people into the game."

Key Details

• Result: Australia 110 def. Qatar 82
• When: August 10, 2025
• Where: King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabia

By the Numbers

• Jaylin Galloway (Australia) starred with 24 points, three rebounds, and two assists in 21 minutes.
• Brandon Datrelle Goodwin (Qatar) scored 24 points, had seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 40 minutes.

What Happened

Australia's efficient shooting was the difference, as the Boomers connected on 56.5 per cent from the field compared to Qatar's 42.4 per cent, building a substantial lead that proved insurmountable in the second half.

Qatar struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just four of their 25 attempts for a dismal 16 per cent success rate. By contrast, Australia displayed exceptional shooting touch, knocking down 10-of-21 from three-point range for an impressive 47.6 per cent. This 18-point differential from downtown played a crucial role in Australia's commanding victory.

Jaylin Galloway delivered an outstanding performance for Australia, shooting a remarkable 8-from-10 from the field including 2-from-3 from deep and 6-from-7 at the free throw line. His efficiency was matched by his defensive intensity, finishing with a game-high plus-minus of +26. William "Davo" Hickey provided excellent support with 15 points and eight assists, orchestrating the Boomers' offense with precision.

The Australian bench proved decisive, with Reyne Smith contributing 15 points on 4-from-6 shooting from three-point range. Will Magnay added 11 points and two blocks in just under 20 minutes of play, helping Australia dominate inside the paint. The Boomers' depth was on full display as six players scored in double figures, highlighting their balanced attack.

Despite Brandon Goodwin's 24-point effort for Qatar, which included 11-from-13 from the free throw line, his team struggled to find consistent offensive production elsewhere. Tyler Harris added 15 points on efficient 7-from-10 shooting, but Qatar's offense stalled against Australia's tenacious defence. The Boomers forced 17 turnovers while committing just 14 of their own, converting those extra possessions into valuable points.

Australia's dominance on the glass further cemented their control, out-rebounding Qatar 45-32. This advantage gave the Boomers additional scoring opportunities and limited Qatar's second-chance points. Jack White was particularly effective in this area, grabbing five rebounds and registering a +17 in just 18 minutes of action.

Australia moves directly to the quarter finals, with an opponent yet to be determined, on Wednesday night AEST.