Basketball: Breakers take over top spot in NBL

Kevin Braswell of the Breakers pushes past the defense. Photo / Sarah Ivey.

New Zealand leapt above Wollongong into top spot on the NBL ladder after pipping the Hawks 89-85 in Friday night's top of the table NBL match-up at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.

Led by a 22 points from former NBA guard Kirk Penney, the Breakers improved to a 9-2 win-loss record, bringing to an end Wollongong's 15-game unbeaten run at home as the Hawks slipped to 9-2.

Star Hawks import Gary Ervin poured in 16 of his game-high 31 points in the final quarter, but despite closing a 12-point three-quarter gap to just two points with one minute remaining, the home side was unable to close out an unlikely comeback.

The Breakers made their intentions clear early as they opened up a 25-14 lead on the back of a Kevin Braswell 3-pointer, but the Hawks clawed their way back into it with a Tim Coenraad three cutting the deficit to 24-27 at quarter-time.

Coenraad's next long bomb early in the second period tied it up at 27-all, with Larry Davidson's flip shot from close range giving the home side a their first lead since the opening seconds at 31-30.

A Breakers timeout failed to halt the Hawks' momentum, with veteran Glen Saville finding the fountain of youth with some athletic moves to propel Wollongong's charge.

With top spot up for grabs the Breakers refused to wilt, CJ Bruton first nailing a three to lock it up at 45 apiece before the two-time Olympian came out after the break to knock down another outside shot and give the visitors the lead.

Wollongong's frustrations grew as New Zealand earned several trips to the free-throw line, big man Gary Wilkinson putting the Breakers up by ten points midway through the term on a drive that had home fans crying for a travel call.

The Breakers took a 72-60 lead into the final term but the Hawks quickly closed the gap on the back of Ervin, who nailed two baskets plus a free throw to cut the gap to seven within 30 seconds of the fourth quarter.

New Zealand withstood the charge to again go up by a dozen with less than five minutes on the clock, Wollongong's late challenge falling short despite Ervin's heroics.

- AAP