New Balance University Basketball League: Round Five Wrap-Up 

Round Five of the New Balance University Basketball League (UBL) brought another week of close contests, an overtime thriller and crucial results as teams continued their push towards the quarterfinals. 

The week saw 18 games played across five days and four states. 

Round Five got underway at La Trobe Sports Stadium, where La Trobe University took on the VU Vultures (Victoria University). VU secured wins in both contests, taking the women’s game 64-91 before following it up with a high-scoring 71-103 victory in the men’s game. 

At NUsport at The Forum, the University of Newcastle faced the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Newcastle claimed the men’s game 69-60 before the women’s match went into overtime, with UTS securing a 73-82 victory after the scores were level 67-all at the end of the fourth quarter. 

Day three kicked off back at La Trobe Sports Stadium, where the home side faced the UniSC Mari (University of the Sunshine Coast). UniSC secured the men’s game 82-94, before La Trobe responded in the women’s contest with a 93-61 victory to split the results. 

At the Nona Lee Sports Centre, The University of Melbourne took on the AU Waatu. Melbourne secured the men’s game 86-67 before the Adelaide women claimed their first-ever UBL win over Melbourne with a 67-86 victory. 

The Peninsula Campus at Monash University then saw Monash University take on the UWA Maali (The University of Western Australia). Monash secured the women’s game 74-53 before completing the double with a 97-57 victory in the men’s contest. 

To help reduce the travel demands for both teams, UWA and UniSC met at RMIT University’s Bundoora Campus for a mutually arranged fixture to start day four. UniSC secured the women’s game 51-68 before backing it up with a 77-90 win in the men’s contest. 

At the Fed Sport and Recreation Centre, the Fed Falcons (Federation University) welcomed the AU Waatu. Adelaide continued its strong round, winning the women’s game 60-87 before the men’s contest produced a close finish, with AU holding on for a 79-81 victory. 

On day five, the Victoria University Community Sports Stadium hosted VU’s Alumni Round between the Vultures and UNSW Sydney. VU claimed the men’s game by a narrow margin of 67-66, before completing the double with a dominant 93-39 victory in the women’s contest. 

At the Hutchins School in Hobart, the University of Tasmania (UTAS) faced The University of Melbourne. The women’s game produced a high-scoring 103-96 victory for the defending champions before the men secured a narrow 82-80 win to complete the double at home. 

After Round Five of the 2026 UBL season, the University of Newcastle has reclaimed the top spot on the overall men’s leaderboard, knocking USYD into second place. In the women’s competition, the AU Waatu moved into first, with La Trobe sitting in second. 

By conference, Newcastle leads the men’s North East, while The University of Melbourne sits atop the South West. In the women’s competition, La Trobe leads the North East Conference, with Adelaide sitting at the top of the South West. 

With the quarterfinals now in sight, every result becomes increasingly important as teams look to strengthen their position and secure their place in the next stage of the 2026 UBL season in the coming weeks. 

Catch all the action live and free on  UniSportTV.     

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(C) All photographs courtesy of Adelaide University, University of Newcastle and Victoria University and may not be used without the express permission of either university, UniSport Australia or the photographer credited.