Offensive explosion powers Hawks to win over Breakers

The Illawarra Hawks are back inside the NBL top four, after easily accounting for the New Zealand Breakers 102-87 on Tuesday.

At MyState Bank Arena, an NBL22 best shooting from the field (55.5 per cent 40-72) by any team, helped the Hawks chalk up their highest score this campaign.

Leading the way in the Hawks’ 10th win this season was NBL Next Star Justinian Jessup, who scored a season-high 23 points while adding three steals, one rebound and one block.
Joining the Boise State alum in double figures for the Hawks were fellow starters Tyler Harvey (19 points, five rebounds and five assists), Sam Froling (13 points, six rebounds and three assists), Duop Reath (12 points and four rebounds) and Antonius Cleveland (10 points, seven rebounds and three dimes) - as well as Harry Froling (12 points and four boards).

On top of their superior shooting, the Hawks also dominated the rebounds (43-32), assists (19-16), second-chance points (22-12) and bench points (25-12).

In the defeat, all five starters for the undermanned Breakers reach double-figures, including Huge Besson (20 points), Kyrin Galloway (16), Chasson Randle (15), Finn Delany and Peyton Siva (both 12).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BACK TO BACK ?’S <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://t.co/fuSFVsiDj6">pic.twitter.com/fuSFVsiDj6</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1498594176438792192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Despite the hosts’ sloppy turnovers, they raced out to a 9-6 lead after three minutes.

The two teams then traded baskets, as the lead changed multiple times during the opening period, including a difficult late lay-up by Isaac White.

But a Chasson Randle triple at the death put the hosts up 22-20.

The Hawks scored the first six points of period two, all from downtown by Harry Froling. 

Quick baskets by Sam Froling, Harvey and Reath helped the Hawks extend their lead to four. 

Just when it looked like Illawarra was going to go on a run, Randle rained them in with a clutch three. 

The Hawks held a two-point lead (49-47) at the break though, thanks to a late two by Jessup - taking his first-half tally to nine, three behind teammate Harvey (12).

The Hawks started the third on fire, using a 12-0 run, capped by a Jessup dunk, to lead 72-60 midway through the term. 

Illawarra capped off a 30-20 quarter with a buzzer-beating deep three by Xavier Rathan-Mayes, to lead by eight heading into the final term. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FLOATER BUZZER BEATER <a href="https://twitter.com/xrm_22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xrm_22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/v0lgt93Yzn">pic.twitter.com/v0lgt93Yzn</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1498605606927990795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thanks to a 7-2 run, powered by strong play by Cleveland, the lead grew to 20 with eight to play. 

The impressive second-half scoring continued through the final exchanges, as the Hawks posted their highest point total of NBL22, to win by 15. 

Next up for the Hawks is another road game, this time at John Cain Arena on Sunday against the South East Melbourne Phoenix from 5.30pm - broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel.