DREWITT'S BULBS MATCH REPORT: Double-Double Hurt Not Enough in Wild West Bout

With a top-six berth in their sights, the Phoenix travelled to the West just 12 days after dismantling John Rillie’s side to the tune of 28 points at John Cain Arena.

And they threatened to repeat the dose again, scoring the first 10 points of the game and quietening the parochial Perth crowd on the back of two huge blocks by captain Jordan Hunter.

Josh King’s defence-first mantras were on full show as the hosts were forced into uncharacteristic turnovers, with Angus Glover (11 points, four rebounds) perfect from the field in the first as the Phoenix took an eight-point lead into the initial break.

A vastly different Perth side came out in the second term, led by returning four-time league MVP Bryce Cotton (33 points, five rebounds), who took charge as the Wildcats scored 40 points – an equal-NBL record in the 40-minute era – to regain the lead and press onward.

Dylan Windler and Kristian Doolittle grabbed the reigns when Cotton sat for the hosts, with Matt Hurt (27 points, 10 rebounds), Nathan Sobey (17 points, three rebounds) and Next Star Malique Lewis (15 points, six rebounds) the main contributors for South East Melbourne.

The referees were quick on the draw of their whistles in the Wild West, handing coach King and Tom Vodanovich two technical fouls within two minutes, helping Perth extend their lead from the charity stripe.

The Wildcats got out to 22 points before the visitors threw one final punch on the back of Hurt’s scoring prowess, the Phoenix playing everything through the former Duke Blue Devil.

And Hurt didn’t disappoint, helping the Phoenix back within 10 points in the dying stages of the heavyweight bout, but it wasn’t to be, South East Melbourne falling short and finishing 5-8 ahead of the FIBA Break.

The Phoenix next play on Saturday, November 30 against the Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena.

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FULL TIME STATS

Hurt: 27p/10r/2a
Sobey: 17p/3r/2a/1stl
Lewis: 15p/6r/3a/1blk
Glover: 11p/4r/2a/1stl
Walton Jr: 7p/4r/3a
Foxwell: 5p/1r/3a
Hunter: 2p/9r/2blks
Kenyon: 1r/2stls
Vodanovich: 3r/1blk

CLICK HERE to secure your seats for Phoenix's next home game after the FIBA break against the Illawarra Hawks on November 30.