Roberson shoots Bullets down as Phoenix rise up

A dynamic shooting display from John Roberson has inspired South East Melbourne to a 113-93 NBL win over Brisbane.

Roberson lit up Melbourne Arena yesterday afternoon by scoring 30 points, including nine-of-11 three-pointers, as the Phoenix won their first home game.

Coming off a 10-day break from their debut NBL match, the Phoenix backed up their maiden victory over crosstown rivals Melbourne United by ending the Bullets’ unbeaten start to the season.

Roberson broke the match open with a flurry of longrange bombs to begin the third quarter, while Kendall Stephens (17 points) also connected on five triples.

Lamar Patterson tried his best to keep the Bullets in the contest with 30 points, including 13 in the second quarter, as did Nathan Sobey (15 points, seven assists, six rebounds).

The visitors led 25-23 after a tight opening quarter before the Phoenix’s perimeter shooters came to life in the second stanza to build a 12-point advantage.

But Patterson came to the fore as he picked apart the Phoenix defence to finish with 13 second-quarter points, cutting the home side’s advantage to 55-50 at half-time.

Roberson then swung the momentum to the Phoenix in the third term. The Bullets tried to chip away at the Phoenix lead but Ben Madgen’s late three-pointer sent the home side into the final quarter up 86-74, before Roberson nailed his eighth triple early in the term to put the game beyond Brisbane’s reach.