United Overpower Hawks

The Illawarra Hawks threw the gauntlet right down to Melbourne United in a third straight strong NBL23 performance, but the home team responded for the crucial win on a milestone occasion for the 88-77 victory at John Cain Arena.

Illawarra turned the game on its head scoring 13 consecutive points either side of three quarter-time to turn a nine-point deficit into a four-point lead and put the onus back on Melbourne.

The result improves Melbourne to an 8-11 record on the season to remain in playoff contention while Illawarra is 2-14 despite having strung three encouraging performances together now.

There was a massive rebound differential in favour of Melbourne 56 to 37 but still the Hawks attempted two more shots and 16 extra free-throws. United, though, shot 46 per cent to 36, and hit 11/27 from three opposed to 4/19.

Michael Frazier II top-scored for Illawarra with 27 points in another strong showing with Sam Froling adding 18 points and six rebounds, Mangok Mathiang eight points and five boards, and Tyler Harvey eight points and six rebounds despite shooting 3/17.

A Deng Deng alley-oop pass to Mangok Mathiang settled the Hawks but United continued to hold sway with Shea Ili hitting an open three and then a perfect pass from Xavier Rathan-Mayes to set up a Marcus Lee dunk.

The Hawks did finish the first quarter on a high, though, with a three-point play to Dan Grida in just his second game of the season after a horror injury run.

Rayjon Tucker regained some of that explosive form from the Throwdown with five quick points to start the second quarter before Goulding nailed a three to put Melbourne up 13.

Illawarra had to respond and that started to happen courtesy of Michael Frazier. He would score nine of his 14 points of the half in the second term to keep the Hawks in touch, but Melbourne still led 46-37 on the back of a career-best 13 opening half form Peatling topped off with a late three.

Sam Froling started the second half with a three ball but not long after Goulding hit a couple from long-range on his milestone occasion to keep Melbourne in control.

The Hawks weren’t going away, though, and eventually Tyler Harvey, Mathiang and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk combined for a 7-0 run to close the third quarter and close Melbourne's lead to two.

Illawarra turned that into a 13-0 run by hitting the first six points of the fourth in a stunning turnaround to lead by four after being down nine late in the third.

Melbourne need to respond not only for the milestone celebrations, but with a loss potentially fatal. Out of a timeout, Tucker and Lee both got to the foul line, then Ili took it to the rack and Goulding dropped a three.

The Hawks are on the road to the Tasmania JackJumpers next on Thursday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 11

MELBOURNE UNITED 88 (Goulding 25, Peatling 19, Humphries 13)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 77 (Frazier II 27, Froling 18, Harvey 8, Mathiang 8)

BOX SCORE