Despite scoring 13 points in the third period, they stayed strong at the defensive end, giving up just 16 points to take a commanding 69-52 lead into the final quarter.

"There was a little deja vu because the third quarter has pretty much been our Achilles heel all year," captain Mat Campbell said.

"It was a little disappointing to come out a bit flat again and it put us on our heels a bit, but the good thing was that it wasn't an 18-0 run. It was only six points and we were able to stem it. We got back to what we do well, and that was the difference."

Campbell led the charge against the Tigers with a season-high 17 points on 6/11 shooting.

"Lucky for me I got some open looks that I was able to knock down and that helped spark the run," the 17th-year guard said.

"After last weekend [against Cairns and Townsville] there was a lot of confidence in the group, and adding Chewy [new import Ayinde Ubaka] in and the way he picked up the plays quickly, it gave the group confidence that we were going to be ready.

"It was good to get a good start and have a bit of a lead when Chewy came in, so there wasn't as much pressure and he could play his natural game."

The Hawks are seeking their third win in four games in this Saturday's road meeting with the Gold Coast Blaze.

Ubaka played with the Blaze in the 2009-10 season and will be keen for a big game against his second former team in as many weeks.