Basketball New Zealand

Newly minted Kiwi and Saints centre Nick Horvath (Photosport)

New Zealand citizenship seemed to sit well with Century City Wellington Saints centre Nick Horvath.

After a Maori welcome before tip-off, the newly minted Kiwi went on to score 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting as the Saints defeated a spirited Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 94-89 at TSB Bank Arena to start round nine of the Dominion Finance NBL.

American forward Ernest Scott scored a game-high 29 points while Horvath added eight rebounds, three assists, a season-high four blocks and a steal as the star-studded Saints jumped back to the top of the League, improving to 8-3.

Saints looked to have the game secured after a 13-2 run gave them an 88-73 with 5:43 remaining but the Jets answered with a 10-2 run of their own over the next four minutes to pull within four points.

The Jets hung tough in the first half, which featured 12 lead changes and eight ties, and neither team lead by more than five points.

Saints shooting guard Troy McLean provided 13 points and forward Arthur Trousdell provided a spark off the bench in the second half with 12 points, while American centre Kevin Owens had 12 rebounds and starting point guard Luke Martin nine assists.

Kantrail Horton fell three assists short of a triple-double for the Jets, with 24 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, along with three steals, while fellow American Keith Davis had 20 points and nine rebounds.

Kaine Hokianga had 16 points, including four three-pointers, and Miles Pearce had 15 points and six rebounds.

Dominion Finance NBL Round Nine

At TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Century City Wellington Saints 94 (Ernest Scott 29, Nick Horvath 21, Troy McLean 13, Arthur Trousdell 12) Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 89 (Kantrail Horton 23, Keith Davis 21, Kaine Hokianga 16, Miles Pearce 15). HT: 50-50
Saints vs Jets Box Score (23KB html)

Round Nine games, scores and standings