KEY POINTS:
TOWNSVILLE - The New Zealand Breakers survived a late scare to beat Townsville 119-108 last night.
The Breakers had too much strike power with Kirk Penney unleashing a game-high 34 points while Rick Rickert (26) and CJ Bruton (19) ensured their second victory over Townsville this season.
A team high 23 from Brad Williamson and a gutsy performance from Kelvin Robertson (17) brought the home side back into contest midway through the fourth quarter while Corey Williams (18) kept the Crocs in the hunt early.
New Zealand was ahead 31-26 at the first break and 64-41 at the half.
The Kiwis continued to apply the scoring pressure in the third to maintain their 23 point lead.
However, Williamson and Daniel Egan cut the deficit to nine before the Breakers regained the ascendancy.
The loss was Townsville's fifth straight.
After playing four games in nine days Breakers coach Andre Lemanis was pleased his side was able to clinch a crucial away win.
"It is difficult mentally. I think it is harder mentally than physically but I thought we were really focused," Lemanis said.
"We have a plethora of players who can make the big plays but we kept plugging away at the defensive end and kept giving them difficult shots."
Lemanis praised the game-high performance of Penney as a decisive factor.
"He is a quality player he could easily demand to be the man but he fits into the team, he has played in the NBA but he lets me coach him."
Townsville coach Trevor Gleeson said changes to the team line up were a distinct possibility after their fifth straight loss.
"We are digging ourselves into a hole. We have to turn this around if we want to compete at the end of the year," Gleeson said.
"The boat will be rocked, it is my job to get the team on the floor to play their hardest.
"We have got to find the combination that does that and we will make some decisions."
- AAP
