It’s a pre-weekend double header in Round Nine of the NBL1 East, as the CoE and Canberra prepare to clash from Thursday to Friday.
The CoE will strive to keep the good form rolling after dominant performances for both programs in last weekend's Heritage Round.
The CoE women returned to form with two 20+ point blow-out victories, moving to fifth on the NBL1 East Ladder with a 10-4 record.
Meanwhile, the CoE men bolstered their position atop the NBL1 East Ladder, stretching their winning streak to nine in a row with a 13-1 record.
WINNING STREAK ENDS IN AIS THRILLER FOR COE MEN
COE 76 - 73 CBR (MEN)
The Centre of Excellence men were unable to complete a second-half comeback, falling 76-73 to Canberra in an entertaining NBL1 East contest at the AIS on Wednesday night.
Trailing by 19 points in the first half, the CoE showed resilience to fight back into the contest and remain within striking distance until the final minutes.
Antonio Browne led the way with 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists in an impressive all-round performance, while captain Willi Hamilton added 16 points. Ajak Nyuon recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, continuing his strong form around the basket.
Ball movement remains a feature of the CoE offence, with Browne orchestrating much of the attack while Harry Cook added three assists and valuable minutes on both ends of the floor. Curtis Evic also made his presence felt off the bench with six points, nine rebounds and a block.
Canberra found its rhythm through William Mayfield, who finished with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, while William Rice added 17 points and Theus Evan Wardlow contributed 14 points and five assists.
CoE led three-point percentage (47.4%) and conversion in the paint, but it was the travelling Gunners that capitalised on the big moments. The visitors' decisive third-quarter run proved the difference, with Canberra using an 18-point scoring burst to build a lead that the CoE were ultimately unable to overcome.
The campaign travels to the Gunners home deck on Friday night for a Capital rematch.
REBOUND MASTERCLASS FROM MAPP DRIVES COE WOMEN
The Centre of Excellence women continued their strong NBL1 East campaign with a convincing 93-71 victory over Canberra, powered by a dominant rebounding display from Lily Mapp and a balanced offensive contribution across the roster.
Mapp was outstanding on the glass, finishing with 22 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, as the CoE repeatedly created second-chance opportunities and controlled possession throughout the contest.
Olivia Olechnowicz led the scoring with 19 points and three triples, while Reece Anticevic added 15 points off the bench. Eliza Shanahan (13 points), Jasmine Jones (11) and Issy Smith (10) ensured the scoring load was shared across the lineup.
The CoE's ball movement was again a feature, recording 20 assists on 38 made field goals, while their defensive pressure helped force 20 Canberra turnovers.
The CoE converted 77.8 per cent from inside in the third to extend their advantage beyond 20 points and take full control of the contest.
Mel Downer's team will travel across town to finish off the weekend vs the Nationals at Southern Cross Basketball Stadium on Friday night.
| Centre of Excellence v Canberra Nationals (W) | ||
| 4 June | Australian Institute of Sport | 6:00 pm AEST |
| Centre of Excellence v Canberra Gunners (M) | ||
| 4 June | Australian Institute of Sport | 8:00 pm AEST |
| Canberra Nationals v Centre of Excellence (W) | ||
| 5 June | Southern Cross Basketball Stadium | 6:00 pm AEST |
| Canberra Gunners v Centre of Excellence (M) | ||
| 5 June | Southern Cross Basketball Stadium | 8:00 pm AEST |
View the NBL1 East ladder here.
View the remaining fixtures of the NBL1 East season here.
Catch all the action LIVE on NBL+
