Harvey explosion leads Hawks to minor premiership

• Hawks star guard lights up Breakers for 29 points
• Illawarra Hawks secure their first ever NBL minor premiership
• Breakers import Matt Mooney booted to the locker room

Tyler Harvey's masterful performance, highlighted by 29 points and six three-pointers, propelled Illawarra Hawks to their first-ever NBL regular season minor premiership with a rock-solid 96-82 victory (Game Centre) against the New Zealand Breakers in round 20 of NBL25.

The Hawks' triumph was all the more remarkable given the absence of import stars Trey Kell III and Darius Days.

Despite these key omissions, Illawarra showcased their depth and resilience, gradually building their lead throughout the contest.

The first half saw a tightly contested affair, with the Hawks holding a 49-40 advantage at the break. However, it was their blistering start to the third quarter that truly broke the game open.

Harvey's sharpshooting ignited a 15-point run to open the second half, including four three-pointers in quick succession.

This offensive onslaught, coupled with stifling defence, saw the Hawks' lead balloon to as much as 26 points.

The Breakers, already reeling from the absence of Parker Jackson-Cartwright, suffered another blow when Matt Mooney was sent to the locker room in the second quarter following a heated exchange with Breakers coach Petteri Koponen.

The blow-up continued in the locker room at the half. He was told to stay there and then the Hawks took complete control of the contest to open the second half.

The statistics tell a tale of Illawarra's dominance. The Hawks' efficiency at the free-throw line was near-perfect, converting 15-of-16 attempts.

Their work on the offensive glass was equally impressive, securing 11 offensive rebounds that led to 10 crucial second-chance points. Ball movement was key to their success, with the team dishing out 14 assists while committing only four turnovers in the first half alone.

Tyler Harvey's standout performance deserves special mention. The guard's 29 points came on an efficient 6-from-11 shooting from beyond the arc, complemented by eight assists.

Harvey wasn't alone in his stellar play. Todd Blanchfield stepped up in Days' absence, contributing 17 points and four rebounds.

Sam Froling's all-around game was on full display with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Davo Hickey filled the stat sheet with 10 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and four steals.

The Hawks now turn their attention to their final regular-season game against the Sydney Kings on Friday night.

While the regular season crown is secured, a victory would complete a sweep of their New South Wales rivals and provide momentum heading into the playoffs.

For the Breakers, this defeat marks the end of a tumultuous NBL25 campaign that began with promise but ultimately fell short of expectations.