MVP favourite Bryce Cotton has drained 41 points to lead the Perth Wildcats to a fighting 96-86 NBL win over the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena.
Breakers import Tacko Hall scored 21 points in the first half of Sunday's match on the way to a 28-point haul, while Matt Mooney threatened to take the game away from the Wildcats with 17 points in the third quarter alone.
But there was no stopping Cotton, who claimed 16 points in the last quarter to help break the contest open after scores were locked at 74-74 early in the final term.
Cotton scored a career-high 59 points when he last faced the Breakers, with that performance sparking a run of four consecutive games of 40 or more for the star guard.
The 32-year-old has now hit the 40-point mark five times this season, with his latest effort improving Perth's record to 12-9, including 4-1 on their current seven-match road trip.
"It was a back and forth game," Cotton told ESPN.
"They made big shots but I just wanted to lock in and try to make the right plays, whether it was making a pass or taking a shot.
"It all comes down to fitness. We all play hard.
"It's about who is just a little bit more conditioned towards the end.
"Luckily for me because of that, I'm able to have the same lift in my shot in the fourth quarter as I do in the first."
With Parker Jackson-Cartwright serving a five-match suspension, NZ needed other players to step up with the scoring, and it was Fall and Mooney who obliged with 28 points apiece.
Fall was unstoppable in the first quarter, with his two early dunks signalling what was to come.
He drained 12 points in the space of five minutes to give the Breakers a three-point edge.
The 229cm giant spent the rest of the opening quarter on the bench as part of his managed minutes, and the Wildcats led 30-24 by the break courtesy of Cotton's nine points.
Fall scored another nine points in the second quarter, but the Wildcats also scored freely as the margin stretched to 55-44 by the long break.
Mooney had just six points to his name in the first half after picking up three fouls, but exploded with 17 points in the third quarter as the Breakers overcame a 13-point deficit to briefly take the lead.
The composure of Cotton and Jesse Wagstaff ensured the Wildcats had a 74-72 edge at three-quarter time, but Mooney surged again in the final term to give NZ a one-point edge.
A huge turning point came when Mooney was controversially fouled out of the match with little more than four minutes remaining for an offensive foul.
Mooney tried to protect the ball and wrench it to safety after being double teamed, and was incredulous when the offensive foul was called.
The Wildcats went on a 14-5 run to seal a win leaving NZ at 8-12.
