Rookies Southern Huskies have squandered a dream 15-point half-time advantage over the New Zealand NBL title favourites in a dramatic 91-86 loss on Saturday night.
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It took the shine off the debut of import Marcel Jones, who dropped a game-high 28 points in the deflating finish.
The home side that have earned two wins from four appearances were poised to cause the upset of the season so far against the undefeated Wellington Saints.
It took until two and a half minutes from the end of the third quarter for the prolific 10-time champions to briefly hit the front for the first time all game in Hobart.
The lead would change no less than five times inside the first four minutes of the last term before the Huskies looked to take control back in front of their home fans.
The Huskies entered the final four minutes up by as much as eight points and looked set to hang onto a famous victory in the club's short history.
But capitalising on six turnovers under pressure, the Saints got on an 11-2 run to regain the lead with just 42 seconds left on the clock that finally stretched to 16 of the last 18 points.
Wellington had only 15 days earlier belted the Huskies 87-60 amid a three-game road trip over four days.