UBL 2026: Results from every round!

The New Balance University Basketball League (UBL) is a fully funded, gender equal, student-only national basketball league, and Australia's premier university basketball competition. The league provides student-athletes with a national platform to showcase their talent while balancing academic pursuits. Sanctioned by UniSport Australia in partnership with Basketball Australia, the league plays a pivotal role in developing the next generation of basketball stars.

In 2026, the Adelaide University Waatu have moved into an on-campus home court at Pridham Hall, on the City West Campus - playing true home games for the first time since entering the league in 2022. Entry to home games is free for everyone, and staff and students at Adelaide University in particular are encouraged to come down and cheer on the AU Waatu - South Australia's only representative!

From the bright lights of big city Melbourne, the Victorian road trip turned west with the AU Waatu travelling out to Ballarat to face Federation University amongst the beautiful undulating hills and pine forests of the Central Highlands.

WOMEN: FED 60 - AU WAATU 87

The AU Waatu women continued where they'd started the day before, overcoming a fast start from Fed to take home their fifth win of the season and cement their spot atop the UBL conference ladder. MVP Ella Turnbull was on fire, scoring a season-high 24 points alongside seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Claire Hunter (14 points) and Caitlin Shillabeer dropped seven three-pointers between them to help seal the victory.

PHOTO ALBUM - Full Game Replay - game highlights COMING SOON

MEN: FED 79 - AU WAATU 81

A day after only their second loss of the 2026 campaign, the men wanted to get back on the winner's list and came out swinging, leading Fed 26-9 at the first break. A persistent home team chipped away at AU's lead from there, eventually putting themselves ahead in the final quarter with less than four minutes to play. Some astute tactical changes from head coach Scott Freer allowed the Waatu to wrestle back a level of control, taking it down to the wire and coming away with the win. MVP Matthew Thomson posted a double-double with 15 points and 19 rebounds, while Ayual Garang top scored with 20 points.

PHOTO ALBUM - Full Game Replay - Game Highlights COMING SOON

After finishing their home season against Monash University, the Waatu travelled across the border to meet rivals the University of Melbourne at the Nona Lee Sports Centre, the team from Adelaide looking for their first-ever UBL victories against the Victorian powerhouse.

MEN: MELBOURNE 86 - AU WAATU 67

The boys in blue are always a tough matchup, and that proved to be the case again in 2026. Despite keeping the University of Melbourne within range for the majority of the game thanks to double-digit scoring efforts from Angus Crosby (18), MVP Curtis Scott (17), Matthew Thomson (13) and Ayual Garang (12), the AU Waatu came up short with Melbourne managing to narrowly increase the lead at every break.

PHOTO ALBUM - Full Game Replay - game highlights COMING SOON

WOMEN: MELBOURNE 67 - AU WAATU 86

In the second game of the double-header, MVP Jemima Whitton (12 points) led the women's team to the AU Waatu's first victory against the University of Melbourne, a huge moment in Adelaide University's UBL history. Terran Wright (18 points, eight rebounds), Ella Turnbull (16 points) and Sasha Hardin (12 points) all supported well, with the Waatu rampaging to the end and outscoring their opponents 49-27 in the second half.

PHOTO ALBUM - Full Game Replay - Game Highlights COMING SOON

The final regular season home game of the 2026 New Balance University Basketball League saw the AU Waatu play host to new kids on the block Monash University, currently enjoying their first season in the league. Staff and students helped pack out Pridham Hall to create a hostile environment, with 370 attendees across the double-header.

The AU Waatu and Monash had decided to use the game to mark their support for LGBTQIA+ young people, playing in the first Wear It Purple Game. It was a celebration of diversity, with Spalding Pride Basketballs and Rebel Sport Vouchers up for grabs in activations, and food, Red Bull, AU Waatu merchandise and Adelaide University Wellbeing goodie bags available for free to those who came out to the game.

WOMEN: AU WAATU 81 - MONASH 74

The women's team from Monash took it to the AU Waatu from the start, engaging in a see-sawing matchup that saw 19 lead changes. After leading throughout, the AU Waatu made a late-game comeback to take the win 81-74. Former University of the Sunshine Coast player Terran Wright threw down a season-high 21 points, also adding an extra five steals to her growing 2026 number. Sasha Hardin (14), Caitlin Shillabeer (13), Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro and Ella Turnbull (11) all scored in double digits, with Jemima Whitton running the offense with eight assists.

PHOTO ALBUM - Full Game Replay - game highlights COMING SOON

MEN: AU WAATU 72 - MONASH 70

In his second game back from injury, Curtis Scott again took control of the AU Waatu offense on his way to 29 points in a full 40 minutes of game time, leading the team to a narrow but thrilling 72-70 victory over the spirited Monash men. In a game with 25 lead changes there was never more than a few points in it. With 26 seconds to go and down 69-70, Ayual Garang led the Waatu down the length of the court before setting up an orchestrated play which ended with Scott hitting a one-handed fade-away jumper and drawing the foul to give the win to the home team. It was another electrifying home game finish which saw the hundreds in attendance at Pridham Hall leap to their feet, showing the excitement around on-campus Waatu basketball in 2026.

PHOTO ALBUM - Full Game Replay - Game Highlights COMING SOON

CROSSOVER DRIBBLE ROUND 4 RECAP

The AU Waatu made their first away trip of the 2026 season to matchup against the University of Sydney in what was sure to be a highly contested battle. A sudden fire alarm couldn't stop these two teams from colliding and it sure didn't disappoint.

WOMEN: USYD 62 - AU waatu 59

The Waatu women came out slower than expected in Round 3, but a resurgence in the second and third quarter saw the them fight their way in front. They kept their foot on the pedal throughout the rest of the game, but ultimately came just short of the win after a spirited last-quarter comeback from USYD. Strong performances were seen all around, which included 44 total rebounds, 16 of them coming from Mischa Buckley and Ella Turnbull. Game MVP Sasha Hardin scored 16 points to go along with three steals and five rebounds.

Full Game Replay - game highlights

MEN: usyd 90 - au waatu 93

The men’s team started hot with a 26-9 first quarter against the hosts and a dominant first half. As in the women's game, USYD fought back valiantly to a close finish, but it was the travelling team of the AU Waatu who ultimately won the battle 93-90. Curtis Scott, fresh off an injury and in his first UBL game this season, earned the MVP honours with 37 points including seven 3-point field goals, and four steals. Matthew Thomson dominated the backboard again with 10 rebounds.

Full Game Replay - Game Highlights

CROSSOVER DRIBBLE ROUND 3 RECAP

The AU Waatu returned to Pridham Hall for the second round of the 2026 New Balance University Basketball League, playing host to defending men's and women's champions the University of Tasmania. Long-time fans will be aware of the brewing rivalry between AU and UTAS, with the Waatu men narrowly defeating UTAS in Round 8 2025 by a score of 90-88 after defending a last-second in-bound pass to the hoop - before being knocked out by them in the Quarter Finals two weeks later.

WOMEN: AU WAATU 99 - UTAS 41

The Waatu women came out with intent for Round 2, playing a physical game against their much taller opponents and capitalising on a fast start to lead 49-20 at the main break. The girls kept their foot on the pedal throughout the second half to run out winners against the reigning champions by a massive 58 points, on the back of a stellar effort which included 51 total rebounds (27 of them offensive rebounds) and an unbelievable 37 steals. Game MVP Sasha Hardin scored 17 points to go along with five assists and four steals, and Caitlin Shillabeer and Zahlia Niemann led the team with 19 points each.

Photo Album - Full Game Replay - Game Highlights

MEN: AU WAATU 71 - UTAS 72

It was a tight contest from start to finish as UTAS and the AU Waatu traded the lead 16 times in a contest that provided everything a basketball fan could wish for - except a win for Adelaide University. It was the University of Tasmania who came out on top, a last-second tip-in for the AU Waatu denied by the referees as the final whistle blew. MVP Ayual Garang continued his strong start to the season, scoring 29 points for the second game in a row to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Matthew Thomson was a force below the rim, bringing down a game-high 17 boards on the way to a double-double which also saw him score 16 points.

Photo Album - Full Game Replay - Game Highlights

CROSSOVER DRIBBLE ROUND 2 RECAP

🏀 300 people packed out Pridham Hall to bang bang the AU Waatu to victory in Round 1 of the New Balance University Basketball League against the University of Western Australia. It was a celebration as fans were treated to a free barbecue, free AU Waatu merchandise including shirts and bang bang sticks, a questionable rendition of Advance Australia Fair, and two hard-fought, physical games in the first on-campus home game in our team’s history.

WOMEN: AU WAATU 83 - UWA MAALI 61

The women got out to an early 38-22 lead after the first quarter and never gave it up, maintaining at least a 15 point buffer at every change and running out victorious 83-61. MVP Caitlin Shillabeer starred with 23 points, shooting 67% from the field. She was supported well by Waatu veteran Jem Whitton (14 points, three steals), and newcomers Terran Wright (13 points, six rebounds) and Janna Mojares (12 points, four steals) - but it was the cohesive team effort that secured the W.

Photo Album - Full Game Replay - Game Highlights

MEN: AU WAATU 98 - UWA MAALI 83

In the second game of the double-header, it was Ayual Garang (29 points, 6 rebounds) and MVP Isaac Hampel (30 points, 5 assists, 4 steals) who starred for the men, with Malang Deng (16 points) and Angus Crosby (13 points) also scoring in the double digits and Matthew Thomson pulling down 10 rebounds. They overcame a hot start from the UWA Maali with a superb second quarter on their way to a 98-83 victory.

Photo Album - Full Game Replay - Game Highlights

CROSSOVER DRIBBLE ROUND 1 RECAP