Hometown hero: Armstrong game-winner lifts Jackies over United

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A game-winning jumpshot from hometown hero Taran Armstrong has saved the Tasmania JackJumpers blowing a seemingly unbeatable lead to Melbourne United, escaping with an 84-82 win at MyState Bank Arena.

Armstrong hit the pull-up jumper to take his tally to 12 points for the game with less than 10 seconds remaining to give his side a two-point lead before United failed to answer back as Scott Roth's undermanned side recorded their second win of the season in a game where six players were fouled out.

The loss puts a star-studded United team, who trailed by as much as 19 points, at just 1-2 after three games and needing to find some form with former NBA guard Cole Anthony scoring just 11 points and going 3-from-14 from the field and 1-from-6 from the three-point line.

United coach Jacob Chance said the game where 71 free-throws were taken between both teams was a "learning period for everyone".

Asked if there was anything in particular he wanted to speak to the league about, Chance said "no, not really".

"I wouldn't change anything about how we played defensively. I've got to work through some things with the league and the referees and just adjust a bit better," he said.

"But yeah, I loved it. And to shoot 41 foul shots down here, go 5 of 20 from three, a lot of things didn't drop, but that happens on a night-to-night basis. But you can't come down here and play soft.

"I didn't think we did that and gave us a chance to win."

The contest was also Chance's first against Roth, who he spent several seasons with in Tasmania, as a head coach.

"Every time I get to go out here with these guys and try and get a win, I'm loving it. I don't care where we are. It's more to be here on a night where (Fabian Krslovic) gets to be a captain for the first time and to see some familiar faces in the crowd and to play the way that we did, even though we didn't get the result, that's the most pleasing thing for me," he said.

"I think Joe asked me before the game if I've had time to reflect on different things.

"You always try to and I probably need to do a better job of it, but right now I'm just worried about recovering, getting out of here and trying to get a good win on Saturday night."

It was a battle of two injury-riddled teams with Tasmania forced to sign replacement players in guard Biwali Bayles and Kodi Stattmann, both who hit the court against United, while Melbourne were without star guards Shea Ili and Chris Goulding.

With both teams and coaches playing line-ups which have rarely been seen on-court together, probably even at team practice, offensive execution was scarce and the frustration quickly grew from each teams who turned their attention to the dubious officiating. The refs also responded, dishing out several technical fouls early in the contest with one given to Josh Bannan for taunting and to Chance.

Tasmania capitalised on United's struggles early on as big man Will Magnay (17 points and 11 rebounds), sharpshooter Dakota Mathias (13 points) and import wing David Johnson (16 points) leading the way as the home side's lead grew to 17 at half-time.

Only 11-year NBA veteran Joe Ingles (18 points) and big man Josh Oduro (22 points and eight rebounds) found any type of rhythm on the offensive end in the first half for United, who rediscovered their trademark defensive identity in the third quarter, winning the period 19-16 to close the margin to 14 points heading into the final quarter.

Despite the improved performance from the visitors, the JackJumpers still looked in control, but the ugly stop-start nature of the game due to the amount of fouls called and continued frustration with officials allowed Melbourne to still be in the contest.

In the fourth quarter everything changed. Melbourne clicked into gear offensively all of the sudden while the JackJumpers offence came to a complete halt.

Oduro continued to provide a major challenge for Tasmania but it was United's defence, which allowed the likes of Sam Waardenburg and Luke Travers to get out in the open floor and score in transition and close within an achievable margin for Chance's group.

A Travers three-pointer followed by consecutive and-one three-point plays had United in front, reducing the usually rampant JackJumpers fans at MyState Bank Arena to silence. But Tasmania fought back and a pair of clutch free-throws from Magnay put the JackJumpers out to a three-point lead with less than a minute remaining.

That was when disaster struck for Tasmania when - much to the dismay of NBL commentator Damon Lowery - they didn't foul up three, Ingles found Waardenburg for an open triple to draw scores level once again.

However, the occasion seemed all set up for Armstrong to make his mark in his second game back in Tasmania, as he dazzled United youngster Austin Shelley to hit a game-winning fadeaway and earn an impressive victory for the JackJumpers, who were without Bryce Hamilton, Majok Deng, Ben Ayre, Anthony Drmic and more.

Roth's team now sit at 2-1 and travel to Brisbane to take on the Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday.

While United are expecting Ili to return when they host the struggling Cairns Taipans on Sunday.