Tassie Win Over Shorthanded Hawks

The Tasmania JackJumpers took full advantage of the Illawarra Hawks being without two of their key stars to regain some form and confidence at home to score the pre-Christmas 87-60 win on Thursday night.

The Hawks had strung together three competitive performances in recent times too but not having Tyler Harvey and Michael Frazier with the combined 35.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game they've been averaging in NBL23 was always going to make life tough.

To their credit, Illawarra battled hard including going on a 13-0 first quarter run. Even though Tasmania turned it around with a 21-1 run of their own in the second period, the Hawks kept fighting and seven straight points in the third term had them back within six.

However, they couldn’t keep it going and the rest of the way the JackJumpers dominated. Tasmania went on a 16-0 run to blow the game wide open.

From the moment the margin was back to six, the home team scored 39 points to 18 and ended up winning by 27 to the delight of the Hobart locals.

It was a rough night for the Hawks with two such important players like Frazier and Harvey. Sam Froling had a big first half on his way to 19 points and eight rebounds but also seven of his team's 20 turnovers.

Mangok Mathiang finished with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Deng Deng seven points and six boards.

Desperate for a strong start in the hunt of that elusive home win, Will Magnay set the tone early for the JackJumpers. He scored the game's first three baskets, blocked Sam Froling up the other and put Tasmania up 6-0.

That soon became 10-2 but the Hawks had come to fight despite their missing soldiers. They went on a stunning 13-0 run to turn the game on its head going from five points down to leading by eight when Froling completed a three-point play.

Illawarra was still in control 21-15 by quarter-time but it was the JackJumpers' to turn the tide to start the second quarter. 

After the Hawks led 24-17 following an and-one from Davo Hickey, it was all Tasmania with the home team setting their raucous fans alight with a 21-1 run to break the game wide open.

At least for the Hawks, Froling hit a triple going into half-time but Tasmania still led 44-35.

After Tasmania scored the first four points of the second half, Illawarra again showed good fight with the next seven points including another huge dunk from Deng Deng, this time over McVeigh who he let know all about it.

That 7-0 run brought the Hawks back within six, but they would get no close with the JackJumpers pulling away once more and this time would be a game-breaking move.

Fabijan Krslovic started a 16-0 run by hitting from beyond the arc before Rashard Kelly and White did the same with Doyle also converting a three-point play with the JackJumpers opening up a 22-point advantage.

That lead was out to 23 by three quarter-time and the JackJumpers with their home fans had some fun through the fourth quarter before settling with the 27-point win.

The Hawks will next play on New Year's Eve when they host the Perth Wildcats with Michael Frazier II and Tyler Harvey both expected to be back.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 12

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 87 (McVeigh 15, Doyle 14, Kelly 14)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 60 (Froling 19, Mathiang 10, Deng 7)

BOX SCORE