A balanced scoring effort around Kench - all five starters scoring 14 or more - was also key to the victory, with Tall Blacks contenders Ethan Rusbatch and Richie Edwards having strong games, as did import duo and former NBA players Mickell Gladness (17 points, 12 rebounds) and Jermaine Taylor (14 points).
For the Saints, early NBL MVP frontrunner Torrey Craig was again impressive with 26 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, Lindsay Tait had nine assists and six steals but shot poorly (1/8 FG), while Dion Prewster (19 points) and Izayah Le'afa (12 points, five dimes and four steals) both were solid contributors.
The Rams now hold a 5-4 record after that crucial win, while the Saints drop to 7-2, vacating the top spot on the ladder to the Giants after their win at home last night.
That win came about in fascinating circumstances, with a topsy-turvy ending leaving fans of both sides with their emotions frazzled.
With the Giants leading 90-89 and having an inbounds pass with just four seconds remaining, the game looked in their hands. However, Jets import guard Brandon Jenkins swiped an errant pass, being fouled as he attempted to drive for the winning layup - causing him to lose a contact lens in the process.
After a five minute search to find the lens proved fruitless, Jenkins had to step to the line to attempt two free-throws with just a second left on the clock. Unfortunately for the now 1-7 Jets, he missed both, the Giants holding on to move to 7-1 and sit atop the NBL standings.
Import guard McKenzie Moore was superb for Nelson with 22 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks, while his fellow starters provided the bulk of the team's production - Josh Duinker (19 points, six boards), the ageless Phill Jones (20 points) and Sam Dempster (17 points, seven rebounds) doing enough to overcome just three points from the bench unit.
The Jets had big showings from Dion Harris (26 points) and Brook Ruscoe (24), while New Zealand Breakers development player Jordan Ngatai is nearing his best form after returning from injury, putting up 14 points and 10 boards.
Joining the Rams, Saints and Giants in the top half of the table are the Rangers, after a strong fourth quarter saw them push aside the still-winless Mountain Airs 99-84.
After 23 first-half points from Reuben Te Rangi kept the Rangers just afloat, leading 53-51 at the half, he received considerable help from Australian import Jason Cadee in the second period as the visitors restricted Taranaki to just 33 points in the second period.
Te Rangi ended with 29 points and seven rebounds, Cadee added 26 points while NBL veteran Casey Frank had 14 points and six boards.
The Airs remain winless at 0-7, their chances last night hampered by only getting a combined 42 minutes out of hobbled guard duo Chris Hagan and Brad Anderson.
The Rangers move to 5-3, and take on the Jets in Waitakere tonight. In other matches, the Hawke's Bay Hawks host Taranaki, while the Rams travel to Southland to take on Paul Henare's Sharks side.
