Photo Credit – NUSport UON
2-Minute Read
Men
The Adelaide Waatu’s season has come to an end at the hands of UON in a thrilling overtime game at NUSport at the Forum 78-74.
Nemesis since their opening encounter in 2025 Jude Jennings started red-hot again with an opening eight point quarter after the Waatu splashed a brace of triples from Isaac Hampel, Thomas Mestrov and Malang Deng with the home side taking the 21-13 early advantage.
Deng continued to have a strong impact with some key triples and attack on the rim helping lead the Waatu to an unanswered 0-8 run. Jude Jennings responded with a quick fire five points with the scores remaining tight until Deng’s hook shot just prior to the halftime buzzer gave the Waatu a slim 33-34 lead at the half.
Another tight third term ensured as both teams went blow for blow in attempts but came up empty in a low scoring five minutes when Angus Seymour started to find presence in the post for UON. Matthew Thomson (six points & 15 rebounds) engaged in the battle then Mestrov’s finish once again place the Waatu just in front of UON with a lap to go 46-48.
UON turned back to a pair of Jennings with the Waatu finding some Ayual Garang hits from in close and deep. Curtis Scott started to have an impact and Jamal Shoaib also found some key baskets as the red numbers approached deep into the fourth term. Jack Sleap quiet majority of the contest for UON awoke with force and was super effective with a late seven points including the game tying wrestled layup 66-66. Both teams missed their opportunities late with Jude Jennings heavily contested layup missed and the game needing extra time in overtime to decide who moves forward.
Sleap and Jude Jennings made the moves early in OT with a small 71-66 lead opened up – Garang responded with a free throw but Sleap went to work also at the charity stripe as well as around the basket to put the game to bed but suddenly alarm bells rang for UON with a Mestrov triple very late and a glimpse of forcing a second overtime. He forced the steal and finish for Scott to cut it to 76-74 with the foul game forced onto Shoaib who made both to finally see off the Waatu who again went down in a quarter final in gallant defeat.
Curtis Scott had a strong second half to finish with 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds with two blocks backed up by Malang Deng with 16 points & seven rebounds.
Men – UON 78 (J Jennings 25, Shoaib 19, Sleap 12, Seymour 8) defeated AU Waatu 74 (Scott 18, Deng 16, Garang, Mestrov 10, Hampel 9) in OVERTIME
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