East Spotlight | Wani sparks Bears to big win

Featured image: Aaron Camua | @aaron.camua

They have five NBL championships between them and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Fabijan Krslovic combined for 40 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists as the Norths Bears held out the fast-finishing Maitland Mustangs for the 99-86 NBL1 East win.

The Bears were back home at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre attempting to rebound from last week's loss to the Centre of Excellence with the Mustangs arriving having won their past two and starting to build some momentum into their season.

It was a flying start on their home floor for the Bears with 31 points to 15 in the first quarter with 12 of those courtesy of Swaka Lo Buluk.

That lead kept building for Norths and got out to 25 points in the third quarter before the Mustangs did make a charge with 31 fourth quarter points only for the Bears to hold on for the 13-point victory.

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The Bears improve to an 11-2 record with the win while the Mustangs are now 6-6 with the seven extra field goal attempts and eight more free throws key to the win in the end for Norths.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk is settling in nicely at Norths and he had 12 points already in the first quarter and 18 to half-time on his way to 27 for the game with four assists, three rebounds and two steals on 9/15 field goal shooting with 3/6 from downtown and 6/6 at the line.

Another former Sydney Kings player, Iggy Mitchell, also had 21 points, four rebounds and four assists with 3/4 three-point shooting for the Bears with Fabijan Krslovic hitting a huge late three ball to see off the Mustangs on his way to 13 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.

Lachlan Bofinger added 13 points, four assists and three rebounds, and Bailey Hanson seven points.

Two-time MVP Will Cranston-Lown top scored for the Mustangs with 22 points and five assists with 3/4 three-point shooting.

Myles Cherry also delivered 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists on 8/12 shooting with Reyne Smith only making 2/9 from deep but having 15 points with Billy Parsons adding 13 points, six rebounds and two assists, and Isaac Testoni seven points and five boards.

The Bears were back home and trying to bounce back from the loss to the Centre of Excellence and made a flying start with 31 points to 15 in the opening term with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk putting up 12 of those including hitting both three-point attempts.

Norths went into quarter-time shooting 63 per cent from the field to just 43 from the Mustangs with the visitors also coughing up seven turnovers in the opening 10 minutes.

The Bears kept that momentum going with another 28 points in the second frame with Swaka Lo Buluk producing another six points while Iggy Mitchell was up to 18 by half-time with the home side on top 59-40 heading into the locker room.

Norths were still shooting 53 per cent and had 13 free-throw attempts while the Mustangs were up to shooting 52 per cent with just six foul shots while Reyne Smith had 10 points and Myles Cherry eight.

The lead for the Bears blew out to 25 points in the third quarter and they were still up 24 early in the fourth, but the Mustangs then made a run including eight straight points and made things interesting late.

They couldn’t quite get over the hump, though, with Norths holding on for the 13-point home victory despite the 31 fourth quarter points from Maitland.

The Bears now don't play again until being away to the Penrith Panthers on Saturday June 13 while the Mustangs are playing host to the Sydney Comets that same evening.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | HERITAGE ROUND

NORTHS BEARS 99 (Swaka Lo Buluk 27, Mitchell 21, Krslovic 13, Bofinger 13)

MAITLAND MUSTANGS 86 (Cranston-Lown 22, Cherry 18, Smith 15)