It may not have been their own country's league, but the Southern Huskies still made a winning start with a dramatic 11th-hour one-point win in the New Zealand NBL.

Anthony Stewart's men fought back from 13 points down against the Manawatu Jets who missed a shot in the final play to lose 100-99 in Palmerston North.

Having missed out on a place in the expanding Australian NBL, the Tasmanian franchise accepted a five-season deal to play in New Zealand and became the first Australian team to take part in Kiwi-run sports league.

In a stunning individual performance, former-Melbourne United forward Craig Moller amassed 17 rebounds to go with his 27 points which included four three-pointers.

Moller has already announced he will return to the NBL to play with Andrew Bogut's Kings in Sydney.

Jalen Billups also contributed 26 points but was top scorer was fellow American and captain Tre Nichols (real name Freddie Lee Nichols III) with 30 as the three big point-scorers dominated game time. Forwards Kuran Iverson (25 points) and Taane Samuels (23) led the scoring for the hosts.

Having sat out the opening round, the Huskies will play the Saints in Wellington on Saturday before completing their North Island tour in Hawke's Bay on Monday.

Their first home games are against Auckland and Wellington in Hobart before the first of five games at the Silverdome, against Southland Sharks on Sunday, May 12.