Bullets fall to Hawks in Wollongong

The Brisbane Bullets fell to the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong on Thursday night, 87-70. Despite the Bullets reining the deficit back in to single digits multiple times, the Hawks were able to stretch the lead out beyond reach in the final quarter.

Next Star Tom Digbeu was a shining light for Brisbane with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Robert Franks had his 10^th double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Tamuri Wigness provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, and Lamar Patterson added 10 points, four assists, three steals and three boards.

After both teams traded baskets early on, it was the Hawks that blew the game open through sharpshooter Justinian Jessup. He hit two three-pointers and 10 points as part of a 14-0 run which put Illawarra on top 18-6.

Lamar Patterson eventually settled Brisbane with a basket, but the Hawks didn’t slow down and three-point bombs from Isaac White heading to quarter-time saw the home side lead 29-15 on the back of an efficient 11/17 from the floor, as opposed to 6/19 from Brisbane.

The Bullets started the second quarter with seven of the first nine points including a triple from Isaiah Moss, but six points from Antonius Cleveland and a corner three from Tim Coenraad kept Illawarra on top by double digits.

It was Tom Digbeu was the spark for Brisbane in his best quarter of basketball in the NBL with nine of his 12 points for the half, but still the Hawks had the answers

Illawarra led 53-39 at the break and that was soon 58-39 to start the third quarter.

It took only a minute for Hostplus Head Coach, James Duncan to call a timeout and he got the response he was after. The Bullets soon went on a run of eight straight points including a much needed three from Robert Franks. Deng Deng found ways to make a positive impact for the Bullets especially on the boards.

However, Illawarra were able to regain control leading by 12 heading into the final break and were able to build on that lead in the fourth.

The Bullets will be back on court in Round 18 of the NBL heading back to Brisbane to host the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 18

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 87 (Jessup 29, Cleveland 14, Rathan-Mayes)

BRISBANE BULLETS 70 (Digbeu 13, Franks 13, Wigness 11) 

BOX SCORE