Darnell Mee on Adelaide’s 2001 Heartbreak, Defending NBL legends and more
August 5, 2026
Damon Lowery
- Nationality: USA/AUS
- Date of Birth: 13/11/69
- Place of Birth: Saginaw, Michigan (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 180
- Weight (KG): 80
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Alaska Southeast (1985–1989)
- NBL DEBUT: 20/10/00
- AGE AT DEBUT: 30
- LAST NBL GAME: 3/02/06
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 36
- NBL History: Wollongong 2001-04 | Hunter 2005 | Townsville 2006
- Championships: 1
- Wollongong (2001)
BIO: Damon Lowery was born in Saginaw, Michigan (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Damon Lowery made his NBL debut with the Wollongong Hawks at 30 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.
After spending years dominating the Australian Basketball Association, Damon Lowery finally earned his NBL opportunity after becoming a naturalised Australian, with head coach Brendan Joyce recruiting him from the Kilsyth Cobras to join a Wollongong team that had missed the playoffs the previous season.
Wollongong entered 2000/01 with CJ Bruton (to Sioux Falls), Todd Mundt, Mike McKay, Mark Dalton and Darren Perry gone from the previous season’s rotation, while Joyce retained co-captains Glen Saville and Mat Campbell, Melvin Thomas and Matt Garrison before adding Charles Thomas, Lowery (via Kilsyth), Axel Dench, Grant Kruger, Matt Shanahan and veteran Ray Borner.
Wollongong opened the season at the WIN Entertainment Centre with a 115-97 loss to West Sydney, where Melvin Thomas (25 points and 16 rebounds), Charles Thomas (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Campbell (17 points) led the Hawks, while the new guard scored 3 points in his NBL debut.
Lowery (13.6 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals) became Wollongong’s backcourt spark, bringing veteran leadership, pressure defence and 85 percent free throw shooting to a balanced offence that relied on depth rather than one star scorer.
On February 9, Lowery (20 points) helped Wollongong erase a 88-74 deficit against Adelaide, making the go-ahead free throws with 32 seconds remaining before Charles Thomas sealed the 96-93 win, with Saville (13 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals) and Melvin Thomas (19 points) helping the Hawks hold the 36ers scoreless over the final 4:28.
His best regular-season scoring game came in Perth on February 24, where Lowery (34 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals) helped Wollongong defeat the Wildcats 106-104, with Charles Thomas (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Saville (16 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 blocks) also delivering big games.
Melvin Thomas (18.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) led Wollongong in scoring, while Charles Thomas (16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals), Saville (15.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks), Dench (13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks), Campbell (12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals) and Garrison (9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds) gave the Hawks one of the league’s deepest rotations.
Wollongong finished fourth with a 21-7 record, tied with Perth but placed behind the Wildcats on the head-to-head tiebreaker, while also going 12-0 in games decided by three points or fewer and finishing with a league-best 12-2 road record. Saville and Melvin Thomas were named to the All-NBL Third Team, Dench won NBL Rookie of the Year and Joyce was named Coach of the Year.
Wollongong opened the qualifying finals at the WIN Entertainment Centre with a 97-90 overtime win over Perth, with Melvin Thomas (22 points and 13 rebounds), Lowery (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists), Dench (17 points and 7 rebounds), Charles Thomas (10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Campbell (10 points and 5 rebounds) helping the Hawks take game one.
Game two moved to Perth, where Charles Thomas (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Saville (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Wollongong, while Lowery (9 points) was held down as the Wildcats responded with a 106-95 win.
Game three remained in Perth, where Saville (26 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists), Lowery (20 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals), Dench (19 points and 5 rebounds) and Charles Thomas (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Wollongong to a 98-88 upset and the first playoff series victory in club history.
The semifinals opened in Adelaide, where Lowery (12 points and 4 rebounds) contributed as Wollongong edged the 36ers 84-83 behind Melvin Thomas (18 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists), Charles Thomas (17 points and 6 rebounds) and Saville (14 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 assists), giving the Hawks their first win in Adelaide since 1990.
Game two returned to Wollongong, where Adelaide forced a deciding game with a 111-100 win despite Dench (26 points and 9 rebounds), Melvin Thomas (22 points and 11 rebounds), Saville (17 points and 15 rebounds) and Lowery (8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists).
Game three at the WIN Entertainment Centre became one of the most dramatic finishes in NBL history, with Lowery (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) fouled on a final-second three-point attempt by Darnell Mee after video replays showed the shot had left his hand before time expired, but also showed Mee appeared to block it cleanly. With players removed from the key, Lowery needed all three free throws to win, making the first after it bounced on the rim, making the second after it rattled in, and dropping the third after it bobbled around the rim before Wollongong defeated Adelaide 109-108. Melvin Thomas (28 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) shot 13-of-18, Campbell (19 points) made 5-of-6 threes and Garrison (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) also contributed, while Kevin Brooks (26 points), Paul Maley (21 points) and Mark Nash (20 points) led Adelaide.
The Grand Final opened at the WIN Entertainment Centre against Townsville, where Wollongong won 104-101 behind Melvin Thomas (24 points and 14 rebounds), Campbell (19 points), Charles Thomas (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists), Saville (14 points and 10 rebounds) and Garrison (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks), while Lowery (5 points) played 22:19 minutes.
Game two moved to Townsville, where the Crocodiles responded with a 114-97 win despite Lowery (25 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals), Charles Thomas (20 points and 5 assists), Melvin Thomas (16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Shanahan (11 points), forcing the championship to a deciding game on back-to-back nights.
Game three saw Wollongong complete its championship run with Charles Thomas (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists), Melvin Thomas (18 points and 12 rebounds), Saville (18 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Dench (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Campbell (10 points and 3 rebounds) leading the Hawks to a 97-94 win, with Saville named Grand Final MVP and Lowery (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) playing 23:59 minutes in the championship win.
2001/02
In 2001/02, Lowery averaged 10.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, playing a key role in the Hawks rotation, helping the team finish in fourth place (16-14).
2002/03
The 2002/03 season saw Lowery average 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists and play a key role in helping the Hawks to a fourth place finish (18-12).
2003/04
During the 2003/04 season Lowery averaged 11.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists and helped the Hawks finish the regular season in second place (25-8 ).
HUNTER PIRATES
2004/05
In the Pirates second NBL season, Adrian Hurley was enticed out of semi-retirement to take on the role of head coach. Feeling that the team’s roster was weak and a direct result for their poor performance last season. Hurley retained only three players, Geordie Cullen, Brendan Mann and Josh Morgan from the previous season’s squad that won only two games.
Ben Melmeth (via New Zealand), Russell Hinder (via West Sydney), Brad Davidson (via Townsville), Damon Lowery (via Townville) and Larry Davidson formed the Pirates new look roster and imports Brian Wethers and Kavossy Franklin were signed to provide offensive scoring power.
Under the guidance of former Australian coach Adrian Hurley, the Pirates became a force to be reckoned with and after a slow start (1-4), the Pirates began reeling off victories against some of the league’s best team’s, including a away win over Perth (83-77) and defeating league leaders Wollongong (90–81). Ten games into the season and the Pirates sat in fifth spot on the ladder (5-5) with much of the credit going to the unselfish play of imports Brian Wethers (24.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) and Kavossy Franklin (20.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals).
Weathers would go on to be selected in the All-NBL first team and win the league’s Most Valuble Player award and after winning the last two games of the season, Hunter would secure the final playoff berth and finish in eighth place (13-15).
In the Elimination Finals, however, Hunter fell short to Brisbane (99-113), a loss which ended playoff run.
Lowery would appear in 15 games and average 8.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals.
TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES
2005/06
The Crocodiles entered the season with significant roster changes. Pat Reidy retired, while Derek Moore and import Robert Brown exited the team. Larry Abney was signed to replace Brown, bringing athleticism and rebounding, while veteran guard Damon Lowery (via Wollongong) was added for experience. Development player Michael Cedar was elevated to the main roster to inject youthful energy.
Lowery stepped into a veteran leadership role, backing up John Rillie in the backcourt while offering grit and poise off the bench. He opened the season with 11 points (5-8 FG), 2 assists, and 4 rebounds in a 111–97 road win over West Sydney, a promising sign of his ability to complement Townsville’s core of Newley, Abney, and Calvary.
Townsville built early momentum with wins over Adelaide (108–100), Perth (124–108), and the New Zealand Breakers (122–113), starting the year at 4–1. However, from Round 5, they lost nine of their next ten games, including a heavy 128–94 loss to Sydney and a 104–99 defeat to the Hunter Pirates where Lowery added 6 points and 4 rebounds in a solid supporting role.
Amidst the midseason slump, Lowery provided key contributions in competitive matchups. Against the Pirates in February, he recorded 16 points, 3 assists, and 4 rebounds in one of his strongest performances of the year, hitting 5-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 at the line. In a road loss to Wollongong (105–99), he posted 6 points and 4 rebounds while keeping Townsville competitive deep into the contest.
Lowery’s impact continued in smaller moments, including a perfect 2-of-2 outing from three-point range and the stripe in a 128–94 loss to Sydney, where he added 5 points in limited minutes. He was reliable from the free-throw line (70.1% FT across the season) and offered steady defensive effort throughout.
In total, Damon Lowery (5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 32 games) played a vital veteran role on a Crocodiles squad that leaned heavily on youth. His season-high came against Hunter (16 points), and he added double-digit scoring nights against West Sydney (11 points), New Zealand, and Wollongong, showing flashes of his scoring touch.
Despite standout seasons from Larry Abney (20.1 points, 11.3 rebounds), Brad Newley (19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists), and Casey Calvary (17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds), Townsville’s defensive issues and inconsistent rotations contributed to a 9–23 finish. The team missed the playoffs and ended the season in ninth place.
Newley capped off his breakout campaign with selection to the 2006 NBL All-Star Game and earned All-NBL Second Team honours. John Rillie (15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists) and Robert Rose (8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists) anchored the veteran core, while Damon Lowery and Kelvin Robertson (7.8 points, 2.0 assists) provided reliable depth in the backcourt. Following the conclusion of the season, head coach Ian Stacker was not retained, and both Lowery and Rose were not re-signed as the club looked to refresh its roster.
Damon Lowery played six seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Wollongong Hawks, Hunter Pirates and Townsville Crocodiles. He averaged 10.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 185 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 36 | Townsville | 9-23 (9) | 32 | 598.0 | 177 | 61 | 46 | 14 | 47 | 20 | 1 | 39 | 72 | 49 | 154 | 32% | 14 | 56 | 25% | 65 | 78 | 83% | 46% | 36% | 16 |
| 2004-05 | 35 | Hunter | 15-17 (8) | 15 | 344.0 | 125 | 37 | 31 | 9 | 28 | 17 | 0 | 23 | 25 | 42 | 104 | 40% | 13 | 43 | 30% | 28 | 35 | 80% | 52% | 47% | 18 |
| 2003-04 | 34 | Wollongong | 25-8 (2) | 35 | 846.0 | 418 | 76 | 98 | 25 | 51 | 37 | 2 | 76 | 63 | 133 | 317 | 42% | 41 | 132 | 31% | 111 | 136 | 82% | 55% | 48% | 26 |
| 2002-03 | 33 | Wollongong | 18-12 (4) | 34 | 1,109.0 | 389 | 114 | 165 | 25 | 89 | 51 | 3 | 60 | 92 | 121 | 314 | 39% | 40 | 145 | 28% | 107 | 130 | 82% | 52% | 45% | 32 |
| 2001-02 | 32 | Wollongong | 16-14 (4) | 32 | 826.0 | 336 | 57 | 74 | 13 | 44 | 29 | 2 | 65 | 80 | 97 | 261 | 37% | 40 | 131 | 31% | 102 | 129 | 79% | 52% | 45% | 23 |
| 2000-01 | 31 | Wollongong | 21-7 (4) | 37 | 1,006.0 | 502 | 91 | 120 | 23 | 68 | 50 | 0 | 74 | 107 | 155 | 378 | 41% | 55 | 155 | 35% | 137 | 178 | 77% | 54% | 48% | 34 | Totals | 185 | 4729 | 1947 | 436 | 534 | 109 | 327 | 204 | 8 | 337 | 439 | 597 | 1528 | 39.1% | 203 | 662 | 30.7% | 550 | 686 | 80.2% | 53% | 46% | 34 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 36 | Townsville | 9-23 (9) | 32 | 18.7 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 4.8 | 32% | 0.4 | 1.8 | 25% | 2.0 | 2.4 | 83% | 46% | 36% | 16 |
| 2004-05 | 35 | Hunter | 15-17 (8) | 15 | 22.9 | 8.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 40% | 0.9 | 2.9 | 30% | 1.9 | 2.3 | 80% | 52% | 47% | 18 |
| 2003-04 | 34 | Wollongong | 25-8 (2) | 35 | 24.2 | 11.9 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 9.1 | 42% | 1.2 | 3.8 | 31% | 3.2 | 3.9 | 82% | 55% | 48% | 26 |
| 2002-03 | 33 | Wollongong | 18-12 (4) | 34 | 32.6 | 11.4 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 9.2 | 39% | 1.2 | 4.3 | 28% | 3.1 | 3.8 | 82% | 52% | 45% | 32 |
| 2001-02 | 32 | Wollongong | 16-14 (4) | 32 | 25.8 | 10.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 8.2 | 37% | 1.3 | 4.1 | 31% | 3.2 | 4.0 | 79% | 52% | 45% | 23 |
| 2000-01 | 31 | Wollongong | 21-7 (4) | 37 | 27.2 | 13.6 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 10.2 | 41% | 1.5 | 4.2 | 35% | 3.7 | 4.8 | 77% | 54% | 48% | 34 | Total | 185 | 25.6 | 10.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 8.3 | 39.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 30.7% | 1.1 | 3.6 | 80.2% | 53% | 46% | 34 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 34 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Horsham (1993), Mildura (1994), Altona (1995), Ballarat (1996–1998), Kilsyth (1999–2000, 2005), Eltham (2006–2010), Bulleen (2011), Hume City (2012), Camberwell (2013)
Lowery joined Horsham for the 1993 Victorian state league season, where his early 1990s run included scoring games into the 70s and one opponent later recalling that holding him to 45 points was treated as a strong defensive result.
Lowery’s early state league path also included Mildura, with his SEABL stretch covering the Mavericks in 1992 and 1993 before the supplied Mildura anchor in 1994.
Lowery played with Altona in 1995, keeping that Victorian state league stop between his Mildura period and the later Ballarat years.
Lowery joined Ballarat for the 1994 SEABL season and remained connected to the Miners through the 1998 season, with the supplied Ballarat anchor covering 1996–1998.
In the 1994 ABA national final, Lowery had 17 points and seven assists as Ballarat defeated Cairns 104–81 to win the national championship.
Lowery helped Ballarat win a second straight ABA national championship in 1995, with the Miners defeating Frankston 101–86 in the final.
Lowery joined Kilsyth for the 1999 SEABL season and led the Cobras in scoring at 24 points per game as Kilsyth won the SEABL East Conference final and finished as ABA national final runner-up.
Lowery was named to the 1999 All-SEABL East Team, then played a second Kilsyth SEABL season in 2000 before later returning to the club in 2005.
Lowery returned to Kilsyth for the 2005 SEABL season and was voted into the All-SEABL South Team, adding a second All-SEABL selection to his state league career.
Lowery joined Eltham for the 2006 Big V Championship Men season and remained with the Wildcats through 2010, beginning the final long stretch of his state league playing career after his SEABL and national league years.
Lowery continued with Eltham from 2007 to 2010, completing five Big V Championship Men seasons with the Wildcats across 2006–2010.
Lowery joined Bulleen for the 2011 Big V Championship Men season, playing one season with the Boomers after his Eltham run.
Lowery joined Hume City for the 2012 Big V Championship Men season, adding another one-year stop in the Victorian championship division.
Lowery joined Camberwell for the 2013 Big V Division One Men season, completing his state league playing career with the Dragons after the Hume City season.
COLLEGE
Lowery played college basketball at the University of Alaska Southeast during the 1985–86 season and competed for the UAS Whales men’s basketball team from 1985 to 1989, becoming the first player to complete all four years of collegiate eligibility with the program.
He was recruited by Whales coach Clair Markey in 1985 and considered transferring after his first year, after averaging around 10 points per game as a freshman.
In his sophomore season, which came during only the third year of the Whales basketball program, the team reached the first round of postseason playoff action.
In his final season at UAS, Lowery averaged 25.4 points per game.
He earned All-District NAIA District I honours as both a junior and a senior after leading the district in scoring, assists, and steals in each of those two seasons.
As a senior, he was also named All-Northwest First Team and an honourable mention All-American.
Lowery played his final game for Alaska Southeast on February 25, 1989, against Alaska Pacific University.
After changing his major in his junior year from business to education, he did not graduate from UAS in 1989 despite having completed his on-court eligibility, and he returned in the fall to finish his studies in elementary education while working as a graduate assistant with the Whales men’s basketball team during the 1989–90 season.
COACHING HISTORY
In 2018 was named Whittlesea Pacers’ women’s head coach after spending 2017 as an assistant coach with the squad.
Related
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