Taipans find a spark and win big in Brisbane

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans looked a different outfit from the start at Nissan Arena on Sunday and completed the job to beat the Brisbane Bullets 98-88.

The Snakes came into the clash on the back of losing in Adelaide to the 36ers by 26 points on Friday night to make it five losses in-a-row, and they were searching for answers.

They got those with a hot start against the Bullets and while there were some hiccups along the way with Bul Kuol and Keanu Pinder fouling out, they dug deep for the 10-point win and first victory since also beating Brisbane back on February 24.

There was so much to be encouraged about with the performance from a Cairns perspective with Tahjere McCall leading the way with 21 points, six assists and five steals.

Bul Kuol was impressive before fouling out in the third quarter as well with his aggressiveness for 17 points, two rebounds and two steals with Scott Machado putting up 14 points and 11 assists in his first double-double of #NBL22.

Majok Deng added 12 points and eight rebounds and Keanu Pinder 10 points and nine boards before fouling out early in the fourth period.

Jordan Ngatai also had nine points and five rebounds, Kouat Noi nine points and four boards, and Jarrod Kenny six points and an assist.

Taipans coach Adam Forde was relieved and pleased with the win, and wants his players to enjoy it.

"Full credit to the playing group. These guys a disappointed and we're trying to survive in this high-pressure environment. The more you lose, it heightens disengagements," Forde said.

"The guys came to compete. They come to play hard. Something dries up, we try to lock it down hard in another area. 

"Everyone should be able to sleep comfortably tonight in their own beds knowing we got the win. Every win, no matter who we play right now feels really good. Full credit to Brisbane, they shot the hell out of the ball."

Robert Franks top-scored for Brisbane with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

After Brisbane scored through Lamar Patterson off the opening tip, the Taipans took over with the next nine points starting with two Scott Machado free-throws, a bucket to Tahjere McCall, three ball to Bul Kuol and an inside finish to Keanu Pinder leading to a Bullets timeout.

McCall and Kuol soon after hit another three apiece for the 15-5 lead for Cairns before Machado added two more at the charity trip to make the lead 12. Majok Deng entered and connected from deep and suddenly it was 20-5 after five minutes.

The Taipans then got out in transition for a Deng finish to make it 22-5 and it was a 13-0 Cairns run.

The Snakes finished the first quarter strongly too and went into quarter-time leading 32-12, but the second term didn’t quite go the same way. Brisbane was always going to throw everything into a fightback and they were able to put up 33 points in the second quarter.

However, the Snakes kept the scoreboard ticking over with 22 points themselves to still be on top 54-45 at the half with Machado (14), McCall (10) and Kuol (10) all scoring in double-figures.

It was an eventful third quarter too and that including both starting point guards, Kuol for Cairns and Jason Cadee for Brisbane, fouling out.

By three quarter-time, though, the Taipans had done well to extend their advantage back out to 79-66 thanks to a late triple from Jarrod Kenny.

Despite Keanu Pinder also fouling out early in the fourth quarter, a Kouat Noi three put Cairns back up 11 but the Bullets weren’t lying down and were with five with four minutes to go.

Jordan Ngatai then came up huge to knock down a triple for Cairns. He then hit a pair of foul shots to put the lead back out to 10 and despite a couple of nervous moments late, the Snakes secured the confidence boosting eight-point win.

The Taipans are back home now on Friday night to play host to a South East Melbourne Phoenix team outside the top four and on a four-game losing slide.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 16

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 98 (McCall 21, Kuol 17, Machado 14)

BRISBANE BULLETS 88 (Franks 22, Drmic 14, Deng 13) 

BOX SCORE