Joyce likened the type of game and hostile environment to a post-season game.

"It was a really tough game," he said.

"Low scoring but really physical... pretty much like a playoff game. In the end we're pretty happy to come away with the win... winning on the road is a really good sign for us going forward to the playoffs."

Despite the low scoreline (66-62) and lackluster shooting percentage from the Miners (37 per cent), Joyce was pleased with the way his offence ran.

"As far as strategy goes, as long as we're getting good shots we're not going to change what we're doing, sometimes you just don't make those good shots."

He lamented he fact easy mistakes such as missed free throws and allowing offensive rebounds kept the Supercats in the contest until the final buzzer.

"We played good defense but just allowed second chance opportunities and missed free-throws... if we did those things a bit better we could have been looking at a double-digit win."

Miners import Jerry Evans Jr echoed his coaches sentiments, telling The Courier the win will go a long way to their continued success.

"Those are the types of games that show what your team is made of so to get the win was big for our group," he said.

"You play this game to play the best so we knew coming in they were going to give us a good fight."

Evans Jr played an important roll in securing the win for the Miners, scoring six of his 19 points in the final minute-and-a-half of the contest and blocking a three-point attempt that would have cut Ballarat's lead to four points with less than 30 second remaining.

"I just do what I have to when the time comes... our ultimate goal is always the same so it feels great to help contribute to a big win."

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