The Townsville Crocodiles scored an action-packed 94-84 upset win over the New Zealand Breakers in Townsville on Friday night.
It was former Hawk Coach Shawn Dennis first win as the head coach of the Crocs and also for former Hawk Josh Pace first as a Croc player.

With the two sides trading baskets in the third quarter and neither gaining a clear edge, young swingman Todd Blanchfield stepped up to knock down two consecutive three-pointers to put the home side up six going into the last term.

Then, just as the Breakers looked to be coming back in the last quarter, Crocs import Josh Pace (22 points) exploded with14 points for the period thanks to his slippery slashes to the basket.

Blanchfield scored 23 points in arguably the best game of his short career, while forwards Brian Conklin (18 points and 8 rebounds) and Jacob Holmes (10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) were solid inside.

For the Breakers, Kerron Johnson was exciting in the open floor with 21 points, while centre Alex Pledger put on a low-post clinic with 15 points and eight boards.

Crocs coach Shaun Dennis said Blanchfield needed to be that aggressive every game to take his career to the next level.

"I expect him to play with that sort of confidence every week," Dennis said.

"It doesn't mean he will make the shots every week but he should play that aggressive. The kid's got a huge future but he just needs to believe in himself.

"It feels good to get the win because there was a lot more positive energy. When New Zealand made runs, we were able to deal with it because of that energy."

Blanchfield said the Crocs - who many have tipped to get the wooden spoon - made a statement by beating the three-time defending champions.

"I don't think you can write us off, we're all out there for each other. For instance, people were stepping up to take charges and when there was a loose ball people were on the floor," he said.

"It gives me confidence that (Dennis) has the confidence in me to take those sort of shots."

The Breakers jumped out to an early seven-point lead in the first quarter behind seven points from Tom Abercrombie (14 points), who was causing the Crocs trouble as he repeatedly slashed to the bucket.

But the Crocs bounced back behind two straight threes from guards Mirko Djeric and Mitch Norton, before Steven Markovic stole the ball and sent a behind-the-back pass to Blanchfield for a two-handed dunk to give the Crocs a one-point quarter-time edge.

Blanchfield then stepped up in his battle with Abercrombie and the Crocs pulled away in the second, only Johnson's 12 points for the quarter, including a miraculous halfcourt buzzer-beater, stealing a 49-47 Breakers' lead at the half.

After Blanchfield's decisive third quarter the Breakers went on a six-point run to pull within five in the final term, but Pace had all the answers as the Crocs ran away with the victory.

Breakers coach Dean Vickerman said his side's turnovers let them down.

"I thought Townsville did a good job of disrupting at times,and we turned it over at different situations," he said.

Vickerman said CJ Bruton didn't play because of a stomach virus, and wasn't sure whether the veteran guard would play in Saturday night's clash against the Cairns Taipans.

Townsville Crocodiles 94  (Blanchfield 23, Pace 22, Conklin 18)

New Zealand Breakers 84  (Johnson 21, Pledger 15, Abercrombie 14)