Tyson takes Phoenix punches but wins on points

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It was more of a "Slow Down" than a Throwdown in the second half of Melbourne United's 92-81 win against cross town rival South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena in Round 8 of NBL26 on Saturday, November 8, 2025 in Melbourne.

The Phoenix, coming off a gruelling 103-102 win against Tasmania on Thursday night, couldn't go with United after half-time on 24 hours more rest.

United led 47-45 at the half but outscored the Phoenix 21-12 in the third quarter and led by as many as 22 in a Throwdown that featured 19 lead changes.

American import guard Tyson Walker was outstanding, pouring in a game-high 24 points in 32 minutes on 8-from-17 including 4-from-7 threes. He added six rebounds, six assists and three steals to be +25.

"Early on it was definitely physical," Walker said.

"We knew they were gonna come out very aggressive, so we just had to try to take care of the ball as best as we could and just try to get into offense quick.

"But it was good. Dean (Vickerman) challenged me before the game – he told me I was gonna play some long stretches, so just trying to go as hard as I can, play defense and just stay aggressive.

"(United assistant) Rhys (Carter) kind of told me to keep shooting from the beginning of the game, so just staying aggressive staying in that mindset. It’s good, it’s good."

Vickerman knew United, losing their last two after starting the season 9-0, needed to withstand Phoenix's opening salvo. He also started Chris Goulding for the first time this season. Goulding finished with 16 points in 26 minutes on 6-from-14 (4-from-11 threes).

"Absorbing their pressure in the first quarter was something we kind of talked about," he said.

"They’ve been pretty elite at creating turnovers. Just watch that Tassie game the other night and Tassie were good enough to hang with them, but again we have turned – the 12 turnovers – is something similar to what they did the other night. I thought limit the turnovers, limit the fast-break possessions.

"Can we do a little bit better with Sobey and Foxy coming downhill, I thought once we did that job and we get fast-break points. It’s a team that pressures you, but if you have a chance to go by them, there are some points at the rim and Tyson was a big part of that tonight."

Vickerman said he was less focused on the scoreboard in the second half and more focused on execution possession by possession.

"I really stopped looking at the scoreboard in the second half," he said.

"I looked up and was like 'oh damn, we’re 18'. I was just riding every possession.

"We got back to playing defense tonight – and probably should have held them in the 70s somewhere and let a few points go in the last minute.

"I thought we got back to celebrating each other, and we got back to – you know, (assistant coach David) Barlow did a great job with the scout and I thought we stuck to it and our rules were good and we competed on the boards still."

The Phoenix had an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers and coach Josh King said: "First off, full credit to them. They were the more physical, more aggressive, more annoying team tonight.

"I wish I had the answer for you (about the turnovers).

"It’s been the second game in a row — obviously they probably watched the Tasmania game — where we’ve had a problem getting shots up and turning the ball over.

"So that’s something we have to fix, but they have a lot to do with that and the game gets really hard when we had 22 — when you have 22 turnovers against the best team in the league, it’s gonna be really hard to win it.

"And there’s a lot of other factors in that, but that’s the one stat that’s really hard to overcome."

King admitted fatigue was a factor despite both clubs playing earlier in Round 8.

"They played, what, Wednesday night; we played Thursday night," he said.

"So it was pretty even there. We had a tough game the other night, we have a couple guys out — it’s part of the game— but yeah, I felt like that.

"That (it) obviously had  had something to do with our fatigue. When you get tired you lose your concentration. When you lose your concentration you start punting the ball all over the gym and we gotta be better. And we will.

"I know these guys in the locker room. They’re disappointed, not the result we wanted, but… hey, we’ll be better."

Key Details

• Result: Melbourne United 92 def. South East Melbourne Phoenix 81
• When: 8th of November 2025
• Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Tyson Walker (Melbourne United) starred with 24 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 32 minutes.
• Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix) scored 15 points, had two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 33 minutes.

What Happened

South East Melbourne burst out of the gates, claiming a 28-27 advantage after the opening quarter. However, Melbourne United responded in the second period, outscoring the Phoenix 20-17 to take a slim 47-45 lead into halftime. The decisive shift came in the third quarter when United held Phoenix to just 12 points while adding 21 to their tally, extending their advantage to 68-57.

United's defensive intensity proved critical, particularly in that third-quarter stretch where they forced five Phoenix turnovers and converted them into nine points. Walker was instrumental during this run, contributing eight points and two steals as Melbourne established control of the contest.

With 6:42 remaining in the final quarter, Walker connected on a clutch three-pointer to extend United's lead to 79-63, effectively ending Phoenix's hopes of a comeback. Despite a late 8-2 run from Phoenix led by Daniel Foster's playmaking, United maintained their composure to secure the 11-point victory.

Walker's stellar performance included efficient shooting, going 8-from-17 from the field and 4-from-7 from beyond the arc. His backcourt partnership with veteran Chris Goulding (16 points, including four three-pointers) provided a one-two punch that Phoenix struggled to contain. Finn Delany added 18 points and five rebounds, while Jesse Edwards dominated the glass with 11 rebounds.

For Phoenix, ball control was a significant issue, committing 22 turnovers to United's 18. These miscues proved costly, with Melbourne capitalizing to score 21 points off turnovers. Phoenix's Jordan Hunter particularly struggled, recording five turnovers in just 24 minutes of action.

Melbourne's superior shooting efficiency told the story, as they connected on 48.5% of their field goals (32-from-66) compared to Phoenix's 42.5% (31-from-73). While both teams made 12 three-pointers, United's ability to get to the free-throw line – converting 16-from-20 attempts compared to Phoenix's 7-from-13 – provided a crucial scoring advantage.

The victory strengthens Melbourne United's position at the top of the NBL ladder, extending their winning streak to five games. Meanwhile, South East Melbourne Phoenix will need to regroup quickly as they fall further below the .500 mark.