Ayre shines, Kuol sets rookie record in Melbourne

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans weren’t quite able to stop Melbourne United securing back-to-back NBL regular season championships but it wasn’t an evening at John Cain Arena without some highlights.

Ben Ayre was the story of the night for the Taipans in just his sixth appearance of the season. Up against the best defensive backcourt in the league, he put up 20 points, nine assists, four rebounds and two steals including hitting 4/8 from downtown.

Bul Kuol went 3/9 from downtown to set a new record for threes as a rookie on his way to 12 points and six rebounds with Majok Deng adding 16 points, Keanu Pinder 15 points and nine rebounds, and Tahjere McCall 10 points and three assists before fouling out early in the fourth.

Taipans coach Adam Forde couldn’t be happier firstly to have given this opportunity to Ayre, and to see how well he's grasped it.

"The reality is we would have had him in earlier in the season but at practice he and Keanu in a rebounding contest collided and it ruled Ben out for two months," Forde said. 

"We would have had Ben in the line-up earlier on and with all the injuries we've had, we would have seen him out on the floor earlier but it was great seeing him out there tonight. 

"I'm happy that he was able to get the opportunity out there in his home town and his home town was booing him, and he loves it. I'm just stoked for the opportunity Ben's been given and he's playing himself into a job."

Keanu Pinder continued his hot form to start the game well for Cairns before Matthew Dellavedova hit from deep to put Melbourne up 5-2. The Taipans had settled well and a nice drive from Bul Kuol to find Majok Deng for a corner three had them on top 9-7.

Shea Ili and Chris Goulding responded with triples for United as they claimed the lead but the Taipans stayed close with the returning Mirko Djeric nailing a trademark three ball.

Melbourne still led 19-18 by quarter-time but it was Cairns who opened the second period on fire. It started with a four-point play from Kuol before Pinder and Tahjere McCall completed a 10-0 to be up nine after just two minutes of the quarter.

Melbourne was able to steady and went on their own run of 13 straight points started off with 10 points to Goulding before Yudai Baba also hit from deep and United was up 38-32.

Ben Ayre hit a second three of the half to keep the Snakes close but Dellavedova also knocked down the three on the buzzer for United to lead 48-39 at half-time.

Goulding nailed his fourth three to open the second half but the Taipans were up for the fight still and triples to Ayre and Deng helped them score 10 straight points to get back within two before a fifth three ball from Goulding.

United were soon back up by 11 following a couple of Lual-Acuil dunks forcing Adam Forde to already use a second timeout in the half.

Three balls from Dellavedova and Lual-Acuil to close out the third term had Melbourne leading by 15 and United cruised to the 12-point win in the fourth.

There was still a couple of late highlights for the Snakes with Kuol hitting his 58th three of the season to set a new season record for a rookie in the NBL. Ayre also hit another couple of threes and had a run in with Goulding to cap his career-best night.

The Taipans return home to host the Sydney Kings on Thursday and then the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 20

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 80 (Ayre 20, Deng 16, Pinder 15) 

MELBOURNE UNITED 92 (Goulding 27, Dellavedova 17, Hukporti 12)

BOX SCORE