Perth Wildcats stage stunning second-half comeback against New Zealand Breakers to clinch overtime thriller

In the first NBL game in the state in more than 15 years, fans have been treated to a stunning fightback and an overtime blockbuster.

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PERTH superstar Bryce Cotton has delivered a trademark dagger to spoil Tom Abercrombie’s 350th NBL match in a pulsating clash against New Zealand in Launceston.

Tasmania’s first regular season match since 2005 delivered a heart stopper, with Cotton connecting on a long-range three-point attempt at the final buzzer to send the contest into overtime at the Silverdome.

The reigning MVP, who had gone 0-6 from deep prior to his clock-expiring heroics, then stepped up in extra time to help the Wildcats bounce back from a last-start defeat to register an 85-79 victory.

The Wildcats’ Bryce Cotton finished the match with 32 points after a slow start. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty

Having failed to score in the first quarter, and with just five points to his name at half time, Cotton exploded after the main break to finish with 32 points, four rebounds and three assists.

His efforts helped Perth erase a 16-point deficit in the second quarter to leave the Breakers’ finals aspirations hanging by a thread.

However, the contest should not have become so tight, with Mitch Norton missing a pair of free throws with 15 seconds remaining with the Wildcats leading by a point.

William McDowell-White then went coast to coast to put the “hosts” ahead for the first time since the first minute of the half, before adding two free throws shortly after to all but have New Zealand across the line – before Cotton stepped to the plate.

Todd Blanchfield added 18 points for Perth, with Norton pitching in 11.

The Perth Wildcats have defeated the New Zealand Breakers in an overtime thriller at the Silverdome, the first NBL regular season action in the state since 2005. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty

New Zealand was led by Finn Delany (25 points, nine rebounds), while Corey Webster, who fouled out in the last period, had 11.

The Breakers took advantage of an ice-cold Perth early, jumping to a 23-9 lead at the first change and extending it 25-9 at one point as the Wildcats struggled from the floor.

But the visitors used a 19-4 run in the last seven minutes of the second period to cut the gap to one point at halft ime.

Although Abercrombie tasted defeat in his milestone match, he did surpass Kirk Penney as the franchise’s all-time leading three-point scorer when he connected on his second long bomb in overtime.

A crowd of 1385 attended the state’s first NBL match since the Melbourne Tigers defeated Adelaide at the DEC in December 2005.

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