Basketball: Hawke's Bay set the pace

Guard Josh Pace helped himself to 30 points as the Bay Hawks made it two wins from two after downing the Manawatu Jets 99-85 in the National Basketball League in Palmerston North tonight.

Import Pace, who had 20 points in the Hawke's Bay side's win over Taranaki last night, shot 80 per cent from the field and received good support from Paoroa Winitana (21) to inflict an opening home defeat on the Jets. Former Wellington Saint Nick Horvath led the way for the hosts with 22 points and eight rebounds with help from import Darryl Hudson who had 19 points.

In Dunedin tonight, the Otago Nuggets, who went winless last season, relinquished the lead they had held for all of the match with two minutes 24 seconds to fall 73-70 to near-neighbours the Southland Sharks. United States guard Scott O'Gallagher, who scored 22 points, missed a match-tying three-pointer with five seconds left.

The Waikato Pistons recovered from their defeat by Wellington last night to down the Nelson Giants 98-85 in Nelson tonight. Imports Sylvester Seay (27) and Jerry Smith (23) led the Pistons while Nelson big man daryl Dora had 29 points and hauled down nine rebounds,

- NZPA