Jessup's career-high guides Hawks past Bullets

The Illawarra Hawks solidified their spot in the NBL’s top four thanks to an 87-70 victory against the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday night.

The star of the show at the WIN Entertainment Centre was Hawks’ NBL Next Star Justinian Jessup, who scored a career-high 29 points - which also marks the highest score of any Illawarra player this campaign.

The Boise State alum, who stepped up in the absence of his backcourt partner Tyler Harvey (injury), also added four rebounds and three blocks in the win.

Others to shine in the Hawks’ penultimate home game of the regular season were Antonius Cleveland (14 points, nine rebounds (season-high), six assists (season-high) and three steals), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (14 points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block) who started in place of Harvey and Sam Froling (10 points, five rebounds and three blocks).

The Hawks also dominated numerous statistical categories including field goal percentage (43-34), free-throw percentage (83-66), assists (19-13) and blocks (8-2).

In the defeat, Robert Franks (13), Tom Digbeu (13), Tamuri Wigness and Lamar Patterson (10) all scored in double-figures for the Bullets - who were without Nathan Sobey and Tyrell Harrison.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Justinian Jessup nails his first five shots, including two triples, to record 12 first-quarter points ?<br><br>?: <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/xm3wPLGJ0T">pic.twitter.com/xm3wPLGJ0T</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1509456188882452481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Both teams traded early baskets before Jessup stepped up in the absence of Harvey and scored seven straight - to help the hosts to an 11-6 lead.

Jessup continued his hot shooting (12 in the first term), sparking the Hawks to nine of the next 11 points, the margin grew to 12.

 A pair of late triples by Isaac White ensured the Hawks led 29-15 at the first break - marking Illawarra’s second-highest first-quarter total this season.

The Bullets came out more determined in the second, opening on a 16-9 run - to close the deficit to single figures (eight).

But Jessup’s flamethrower was still running hot, with back-to-back triples moving Illawarra back out to a 49-37 lead.

Right on half-time, Emmett Naar found a diving Sam Froling for a lay-up, to give the Hawks a 53-39 lead.

That score (53) equalled Illawarra’s highest first-half score of the season - also had 53 vs Phoenix in round 16).

Illawarra came out firing in the third and five quick points forced Bullets coach James Duncan into an early time-out.

The visitors ground their way back slowly, behind energised play from former Hawk Deng Deng and Anthony Drmic.

Solid play on both ends of the floor by Naar and Cleveland kept the Hawks' lead in double-figures going into the last - leading 68-56 at the final change.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DOUBLE TROUBLE - proudly brought to you by Air <a href="https://twitter.com/ac_uno1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ac_uno1</a> ??<br><br>?: <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/cvmvA2qfMB">pic.twitter.com/cvmvA2qfMB</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1509472079552593924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Back-to-back thunderous jams by Cleveland and sweet-shooting by Rathan-Mayes capped another strong run by the Hawks, as the hosts extended their lead to 20 points with two minutes to play.

In the final moments, Brian Goorjian, in his return match, emptied his bench, allowing Alex Mudronja to make his official Illawarra Hawks debut - as the Hawks ran out 17-points winners.

Next up for the Hawks, who move into third with a 15-8 record, is Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Saturday, April 2 - with game three of the LifeChanger Cup tipping off at 5.30pm AEDT.