McVeigh shoots Boomers to exhibition win

• Jack McVeigh top-scored with 20 points, including five triples, and dished out seven assists.
• Australia's bench outscored Colorado’s 57–35, with Jaylin Galloway contributing 16 points.
• Boomers forced 16 turnovers and recorded 25 assists in a well-balanced team performance.

A devastating injury to Sean Macdonald soured a first-up win for the new-look Boomers as scans later confirmed a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) that occured with under a minute to go.

Key Details

Result: Australia 93 def. Colorado 87
When: 31st July 2025
Where: Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre

By the Numbers

Jack McVeigh (Australia) starred with 20 points, two rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in 26 minutes.
Isaiah Johnson (Colorado) scored 19 points, had two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 18 minutes.

What Happened

Australia will land in Saudi Arabia for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup off a win after Jack McVeigh and Jaylin Galloway powered Australia to a 93-87 victory against the University of Colorado on the Gold Coast, with McVeigh's 20 points headlining a balanced Boomers attack.

Australia set the tone early, establishing control with Jack McVeigh finding his rhythm from beyond the arc. The Boomers showcased their depth with 57 bench points compared to Colorado's 35, proving decisive in the six-point victory.

Jack McVeigh was exceptional for Australia, connecting on five three-pointers from 12 attempts while adding seven assists. His ability to space the floor created opportunities for teammates, with Jaylin Galloway contributing 16 points off the bench on efficient 5-from-8 shooting.

With just over two minutes left in the final quarter, Jack McVeigh''s critical three-pointer extended Australia's lead to eight points. Colorado responded though, making it a four point game with just 47 seconds remaining, but the Boomers maintained composure to secure the win.

Rookie Boomers head coach Adam Caporn started a combination of Will Hickey, Sean Macdonald, Jack McVeigh, Ben Henshall, and Will Magnay, but Henshall was limited to just four minutes due to sickness.

Rumoured Cairns Taipan free agent signing Reyne Smith had 11 points, shooting 3/8 from long distance.

Australia's ball movement was superior throughout, registering 25 assists to Colorado's 14. Will Magnay orchestrated the offense with six assists from the centre position, while Xavier Cooks added four assists and two blocks in just 16 minutes of action.

The Boomers' defense forced 16 turnovers, converting them into 17 points. Their rim protection was solid with four blocks, including two from Xavier Cooks. This defensive effort limited Colorado's second-chance opportunities despite the Buffaloes holding a 42-37 rebounding advantage.

Australia's shooting efficiency proved the difference, hitting 48 percent from the field (29-from-60) compared to Colorado's 43 percent (30-from-69). The Boomers connected on 12 three-pointers at a 33 percent clip, with McVeigh and Jack Galloway combining for seven from downtown.

Colorado stayed competitive behind Isaiah Johnson's efficient 19 points off the bench. The freshman guard shot an impressive 6-from-10 from the field, including 3-from-4 from three-point range. Sebastian Rancik added 16 points and five rebounds for the Buffaloes but struggled with his shooting efficiency, going just 5-from-15 from the field.

Australia's bench provided the critical edge, outscoring Colorado's reserves 57-35. This depth allowed coach Adam Caporn to maintain pressure throughout all four quarters, with 11 players seeing at least three minutes of court time, including debutante Dash Daniels, who registered two points in three minutes of action.

The Boomers face South Korea in the Asia Cup on Wednesday night at 6:00pm AEST.