New Zealand's Finn Delany falls over the top of Hawks player Justin Simon at the WEC on Saturday night. Photo: Mark Kolbe

JUSTIN Simon's clutch steal in the dying seconds helped the Hawks secure a thrilling win at the WEC on Saturday night.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

In their final game before returning to New Zealand, a spirited Breakers outfit came from eight points down at three-quarter time to give the hosts a huge fright, before Illawarra hung on to win 73-71.

The fast-finishing Breakers had threatened to pinch victory, however, Simon made a crucial steal to deny their opponent.

"It's part of our culture. Night in, night out, we want to hang our hat on the defensive end. I'm on the ball, pressuring the ball and getting rebounds... and I think it's contagious," Simon said.

"It was big time (his steal), it was huge for our team. I just take my pride on the defensive end."

The play capped a big night for Simon, who finished with a double-double, mustering 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Teammate Sam Froling also had 12 points and 12 boards, while Tyler Harvey led all comers with 24 points. For the Breakers, Finn Delany mustered 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Will McDowell-White had 14 points, nine assists and seven boards.

There was some sharp-shooting from the outset on Saturday night.

Tyler Harvey got the ball rolling from long-range, before Delany responded with a three of his own. The visitors continued to look dangerous from ouside the arc, with Tai Webster and McDowell-White draining three-pointers to give their side a 9-7 lead.

Momentum then swung towards the Hawks, who went on an 10-4 run - which included two baskets apiece for Harvey and Froling - to open up a 17-13 advantage. However, Delany mustered back-to-back three-pointers for the Breakers, before Justinian Jessup responded from long range.

The Breakers then scored six of the next 10 points to wrestle back the lead. Delany's two free throws gave his team a 27-24 advantage, and that's how the score remained at quarter time.

The Hawks were ice-cold from the field to start the second quarter. New Zealand scored four of the first six points, before Emmett Naar's basket cut the deficit to 31-29.

Colton Iverson and Harvey traded baskets, and Daniel Grida's free throw saw the Hawks move within a point. Froling then mustered a lay-up, and Grida's basket gave the hosts a 36-33 advantage.

The Breakers hit back with a dunk from Iverson, but Justin Simon's basket plus free throw gave Illawarra a four-point lead with 90 seconds left.

Harvey stepped up to nail a free throw and basket to give his side a 42-35 advantage at the main break. Delany led all comers with 13 points, while Harvey had 12 points for Illawarra and Froling mustered eight points and six boards.

The Breakers had their chances early in the third, but Illawarra's defence proved up to the task. It took close to two-and-a-half minutes for either side to score, with Jessup's jump shot breaking the drought before AJ Ogilvy's basket gave the Hawks a 11-point lead.

McDowell-White finally got the visitors on the board after half time, but Harvey's two from the line, a Jessup three-pointer and Justin Simon free throw saw the Hawks extend their lead to 52-37.

But the Breakers continued to fight, going on an 10-4 run, to trim the margin to 57-48. A Rasmus Bach three-pointer in the dying seconds helped cut the deficit to 58-50 at the final break.

The Breakers came out firing in the fourth, going on a 7-3 run, to cut Illawarra's buffer to 61-57. However, Harvey then lifted the WEC crowd, draining one from long range.

Delany responded for the Breakers, scoring seven of the game's next nine points, to bring the visitors within two points. Bach's three-pointer then gave New Zealand a 67-66 lead with four minutes left.

Their advantage was short lived, with Froling's lay up ending the Breakers' run. The big man then lifted again, making two huge defensive blocks, before scoring a basket at the other end as the Hawks jumped ahead by 70-67.

Rob Loe's basket then cut the deficit to one point, before Tai Webster's two free throws gave the Breakers a 71-70 advantage

At the other end, the Hawks responded through Harvey to take the lead, before the hosts stood up in defence to deny their opponent. The Breakers were equally impressive in their back court, keeping the Hawks' offense at bay.

With 22 seconds left, New Zealand benefited from a controversial technical foul. Delany was unable to take advantage, and the score remained 71-70, but the visitors got the ball back.

In the dying seconds, the Breakers appeared a chance to break Illawarra's hearts, but it was Simon who came up with the crucial steal. Simon was fouled on the play, going to the line where he nailed one free throw to round out the 73-71 win.