Melbourne Tigers star Mustapha Farrakhan remonstrates during the match against Townsville. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
HOW soon can the Melbourne Tigers move back to The Cage?
That was the question being asked by supporters as the club’s Hisense Arena curse continued with bottom-placed Townsville handing Melbourne its fourth consecutive defeat in dramatic fashion on Saturday night.
Melbourne forced the game to overtime courtesy of a desperate Lucas Walker three-pointer with a second remaining.
But the Tigers could not land a killer blow and Townsville found a way to score an upset 109-106 victory.
Star Melbourne guard Chris Goulding scored game-high 32 points in a strong return to form .
While forward Mark Worthington netted 28 points in a solid performance.
But the star of the match was Townsville’s Steven Markovic, who guided his side to victory with 26 points and six assists.
Scott Morrison started the game wearing a protective mask after suffering a broken nose last round.
But the Tigers big man was struggling to see properly and soon ditched it.
It was the Crocodiles who broke quickly into the game to lead up six points at quarter-time.
The lead blew out to nine during the second quarter with Brian Conklin proving a menace for the home side.
Some nice work from Worthington helped reduce the margin to five points at the main break.
Melbourne shot at just 13 per cent from three-point land in the opening half.
The Tigers’ run in the third term was interrupted by a couple of dubious fouls.
The momentum was halted when point guard Nate Tomlinson was called for a flagrant foul.
Not even a game-ending injury to Corkin could stop the visitors with the lead extended to 13 points mid-way through the third term.
The Tigers were in massive trouble before Goulding took over.
The 25-year-old found his touch again to nail a series of big three-pointers to get the home side back within a point at the final change.
A Mustapha Farrakhan three-pointer then gave Melbourne the lead for the first time early in the final quarter.
Melbourne had the momentum but the Crocodiles would not go away.
It was always going to be hard work once Tomlinson fouled out with four minutes remaining.
The game ebbed and flowed in the final minutes but the Crocodiles held a three-point lead in the dying seconds.
Walker’s heroics in the finals seconds sent the game into overtime.
But the home side could not find a way to close out the match.
Melbourne will now head across the ditch to face the NZ Breakers on Thursday night.
They will then return home to meet the Sydney Kings at Hisense Arena on Sunday.
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