The Adelaide 36ers squeezed out a home win in their NBL top-of-the-table battle with Melbourne, outlasting the Tigers to record an entertaining 94-92 win at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

A wildly fluctuating contest seemed in the Tigers' keeping in the third term as they charged to an 11 point advantage, but telling final term contributions from Willie Farley and Dusty Rychart enabled the Sixers to sneak home with the last five points of the game.

Adelaide captain Brett Maher held his side together with 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists, backed up by Oscar Foreman (17 points), Farley (16 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Rychart (13).

Melbourne was sustained by Dave Thomas' 27 points, while Rashad Tucker (20 points) and tall Chris Anstey (17 points, nine rebounds) were also dangerous.

Much of the pre-game talk had revolved around how Adelaide would counter Anstey, but the Sixers' quarter time lead was built on the offensive efforts of one of their own tall options.

Oscar Foreman nabbed 11 points, including two from two threes, to hand the home side a 30-27 lead at the first break despite leaking eight early points to Tucker.

The free scoring first gave way to tighter defensive efforts in the second, as the 36ers slowly added to their advantage.

Anstey got busy in offence with seven points, but few easy baskets were on offer for Melbourne.

Their frustration was epitomised by a breathless passage two minutes before half time, with at least five Tigers' field goal attempts either missing or being blocked.

When Maher found a way through the key on Adelaide's eventual rebound to complete an 11 point quarter, the Sixers' half time lead was a considerable nine, 53-44.

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