NBL1 Wildcard Recap: Round 5 - Thursday June 9

The Men’s Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence has taken down the NBL1 East Canberra Gunners in a dazzling display of dunks by Joshua Ojianwuna. 

Check out the game recap below: 

MEN 

Centre of Excellence (74) def Canberra Gunners (64) 

The CoE have won five of their six matches this season and this game showcased that this talented group of young men are a competitive force on both ends of the court. 

However, the star of the night was Duke University recruit Tyrese Proctor, who finished the game with 24 points (4/6 from three), four rebounds and three assists. 

The Gunners came into this game 8-2, tied for first in the NBL1 East Men’s ladder. But the CoE absolutely dominated the first quarter, scoring 20-7.

Canberra’s Glenn Morrison came alive in the second half, scoring 13 of his 17 total points in the second half. Morrison, alongside William Mayfield who scored 19 points, did their best efforts to take down the CoE. 

But Akech Aliir did not go down without a fight, with 10 points and six rebounds he was the heart of the Gunners surge back into this game with explosive dunks and blocks. 

Canberra struggled to keep the ball in their hands, the Gunners finished the game with 24 turnovers while the CoE scored 12 points from turnovers. 

In a last stitch effort, the Gunners successfully used a full-court press to halt the CoE’s flurry of attacks inside, but Ojianwuna just dunked over the defence, finishing the game with a few minutes left.

Feature image via Kelly Barnes / AllStar Photos