Hawks claim NBL comeback win over Breakers
Front-court duo Todd Blanchfield and Brian Conklin combined for 47 points to lead the Illawarra Hawks to a stunning 107-96 comeback victory over the New Zealand Breakers at WIN Entertainment Centre.
Illawarra were behind at every change before out-scoring the Breakers 34-11 in the final quarter to claim their 10th win of the season and keep their finals hopes alive.
Jordair Jett and AJ Ogilvy scored 14 points apiece off the bench for the Hawks, while four-time Olympian David Andersen added 10.
Jarrad Weeks led New Zealand with 22 points and forward Tom Abercrombie finished with 20.
The Breakers were firmly on course for their ninth win for most of the night before collapsing in crunch time.
Illawarra were in control early in the game but the Breakers didn't flinch, as Patrick Richard, Finn Delaney and Weeks combined for 15 points off the bench.
Veteran forward Abercrombie made a pair of free throws and a three-point bomb in the closing seconds to give the visitors a 27-22 quarter-time lead.
Weeks hogged the limelight throughout the second period and had 18 points at half-time after missing just one of his seven shots.
Blanchfield's 17 points kept the Hawks within striking distance but New Zealand led 52-47 at half-time and stretched the margin to 12 at three-quarter time.
But despite leading by 15 early in the fourth period, the Breakers were over-run by a rampant Hawks.
