Experience was needed by the Melbourne Tigers to hold off a fast finishing New Zealand Breakers in their NBL clash.

And with veteran guard Andrew Gaze, 39, playing his 601st game, they had plenty to call on.

Gaze finished with a game high 27 points to ease the fourth placed Tigers to a 111-105 victory over the Breakers at Auckland's North Shore Events Centre.

The Tigers looked to have the game sewn up at halftime when they led 67-51 but a third quarter comeback by the hosts set up an exciting finish.

New Zealand outscored the Tigers 25-15 in the third to trail by just six at the start of the final period.

Breakers import Mike Chappell sparked the comeback, finishing with 25 points.

But free throw percentage let the hosts down - the Breakers shot 62 per cent from the line compared to the Tigers' 81 per cent.

For Melbourne, Gaze was assisted by Dave Thomas (25pts) and Mark Bradtke (22).

The Tigers lead at the main break with four players in double figures - Gaze with 15, Lanard Copeland with 13, Thomas with 12 and Bradtke with 12.

The Breakers had just Chappell on 15 and lacked any major support.

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