The Canberra Cannons have rediscovered the joys of winning after notching a stirring 100-96 upset victory over the Melbourne Tigers at the Palace.

On a night where the recent devastation was remembered with a variety of fund raising efforts, the Cannons did their part to help restore Canberra's spirit.

The Cannons snapped an eight game losing streak, winning their first game since late November, but not before the Tigers stormed back in the final quarter.

Canberra played all over the Tigers in the opening three quarters, holding a 20 point lead, 83-69, with one to go.

Fired up by a Lanard Copeland blitz, who finished with 15 points in the last, Melbourne found themselves trailing by just three points with five seconds left on the clock.

After a quick foul from the Tigers, Cannons guard Mick Hill hit the second of his two free-throws to put the game out of Melbourne's reach and hand stand in coach Lloyd Klaman his first NBL victory.

"I am just elated, and I'm so proud of the guys," Klaman said.

"At any point over the last two months they could have really chucked it in and given up but they haven't."

Klaman also paid tribute to the 3,131 fans who came out to support the Cannons, despite on-going fire concern in Canberra.

"If that game was on the road, I think Melbourne would have over taken us, but our fans got us home.

"I really think the fans gave them the extra bit of energy in the final two or three minutes."

Canberra had Melbourne under the gun from the start, leading by as much as nine points before going into quarter time up 31-23.

Melbourne got as close as six points in the second quarter, but 10 points from Hill ensured the Cannons led 56-45 at halftime.

The third quarter proved to be the difference, with Canberra putting the buffer in the scoreline that proved so vital in the dying minutes, outscoring the Tigers 27-18.

The Cannons largest lead of the game was achieved on the buzzer of three quarter time, with Hill's last second drive putting Canberra up by 20.

Melbourne coach Lindsay Gaze will have to wait at least another week for NBL win 300, with the Tigers dropping to 10-12 on the season.

"I always thought this game was going to be tough because there was going to be a lot of emotion," Gaze said.

"For three quarters we were lethargic and seemed to be playing at half pace.

"I think we showed tremendous courage and determination to keep battling under very bad conditions."

The main concern Canberra will take out of the game will be their continued poor form from the free throw line.

After costing them their midweek clash against Wollongong, the Cannons hit just 18 of 33 from the charity strip for 54 per cent, making the game a lot closer than it should have been.

Reggie Poole was a tower of strength for Canberra, winning his inside battle with Melbourne's Mark Bradtke, finishing with 25 points on 11 of 16 shooting to go with 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Copeland finished with 25 points to lead Melbourne, which included four threes in the final quarter come back.

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