Basketball: Melbourne coach Dean Demopoulos sympathises with heartbroken Breakers

Melbourne United coach Dean Demopoulos talks to his players. Photo/Getty.

Melbourne United coach Dean Demopoulos has offered his sympathies to the Breakers after the New Zealand side's controversial 86-87 ANBL defeat last night.

The Breakers were on the verge of a famous victory at Hisense Arena before the home side pushed ahead on the back of a run of late foul shots.

Momentum turned against the visitors when Breakers guard Corey Webster was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, after an off-the-ball clash with Melbourne star Chris Goulding.

The home side benefitted from a pair of free throws and claimed the resulting possession to go on to maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a ninth victory.

Demopoulos extended his sympathies towards the Breakers, for the cruel nature of the loss, saying: "As much as I love coming out on top I don't like it like that. I feel bad.

"I'm not saying it's wrong or right, I have no idea. Just it's not the way I would like it. If I was on the other side I wouldn't like it.

"I feel for New Zealand but I would rather be on this side of it."

Breakers coach Dean Vickerman did not comment on the incident and assistant coach Paul Henare also refused to discuss the contentious call.

"I'm not going to comment on anything that happened at the end of the game" said Henare.

"We're pretty disappointed, obviously, and I just really feel for the guys. They played some really good basketball after we came in a little bit under-manned.

"We played well enough to win but, unfortunately at the end, it just didn't go for us. It's something that I'm sure plenty of other people will have an opinion on."

The Breakers are expected to arrive back in Auckland at 3pm today.