Statement made. Hawks firm title credentials

• Trey Kell III has 23, Tyler Harvey adds 20
• Hawks go to 16-8, United falls to third at 15-10
• Sam Froling has 14-10 double-double

In a high-stakes clash atop the NBL ladder, the Illawarra Hawks delivered a statement performance, dismantling Melbourne United 117-95 at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday, January 18, 2025 in round 17 of NBL25.

The emphatic victory solidified the Hawks' grip on first place.

Hawks coach Justin Tatum was effusive in his praise for his squad's performance.

"The four quarters that we played was unbelievable," Tatum said.

"One of the boxes that we wanted to check off was to play four quarters, and we'd played so many games where we only played two or three quarters well.

"I felt today we really played four quarters and the effort of Swak (Wani Swaka Lo Buluk) on their best offensive guy (Chris Goulding) was what I liked the most."

From the opening tip, the Hawks played with a intensity, eager to avenge their previous home loss to United and bounce back from the loss to Adelaide in Adelaide.

The home side set the tone early, outworking Melbourne in every facet of the game. Though United's Chris Goulding kept his team within striking distance in the first half with a flurry of three-pointers, the Hawks' relentless pressure and efficient shooting proved too much to overcome.

As the contest wore on, Illawarra's dominance became increasingly apparent.

They outscored Melbourne 13-5 to start the second half, forcing United coach Dean Vickerman to burn two timeouts in quick succession. The lead ballooned to 24 points as the Hawks continued to pour it on, showcasing their depth and firepower.

The statistics tell the tale of Illawarra's comprehensive victory. The Hawks shot a blistering 57% from the field compared to United's 40%, including a decisive 11-from-35 from long range. Most tellingly, Illawarra dominated the battle of second-chance points, outscoring Melbourne 25-4.

The Hawks also held a significant advantage in fast-break points, 24-0.

Trey Kell III led the charge for the Hawks with a game-high 23 points, including a scorching 5-from-9 from beyond the arc. Tyler Harvey added 20 points and nine assists, while Lachlan Olbrich electrified the crowd with 18 points and several thunderous dunks. Sam Froling rounded out the balanced attack with a double-double, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Illawarra improve to 16-8, cementing their position atop the NBL standings. Melbourne United, meanwhile, slip to 15-10 and relinquish second place to the Perth Wildcats (15-9). The Hawks will look to maintain their momentum as they host the struggling Brisbane Bullets on Monday night.

United, on the other hand, face a crucial test as they travel to Perth to take on the Wildcats in a match with significant playoff implications.