​Defence is on the improve for the struggling Wollongong Hawks - now for the excruciatingly ugly offence.

The Hawks held the New Zealand Breakers to 71 points on Friday night in Auckland, which included an implausible three-point output in the entire third quarter.

But Wollongong scored just 13 themselves in the same 10-minute span and were restricted to eight in the final quarter, as the Breakers secured a 71-55 victory to move up to third spot.

Creating and making shots on a consistent basis has been an issue for the last-placed Hawks all season, particularly the past two weeks.

They started the season full of promise, racking up 92 points and making 49 per cent of their shots in an opening-night triumph over Townsville.

Aside from an 89-point effort at 48 per cent a week later against Cairns, Wollongong’s glaring inability to keep the scoreboard ticking is the reason why they have lost nine straight since the first-round defeat of Townsville.

The Hawks are averaging 71.9 points per game, making just 39.6 per cent of their shot attempts and a mere 29.3 per cent from three-point range. In the past two games they have averaged 53.5 points at 31 per cent and knocked down a measly 18 per cent of their three-point shots.

With the finals almost out of reach a third of the way into the season, Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod will be hoping his side’s offence finally clicks in this weekend’s road double against Cairns and Townsville.

‘‘The pleasing thing [against New Zealand] was we competed well, our disruption was reasonable and we built some pressure on the defensive end, but we are really struggling offensively as a group and we really have to find a way to play,’’ McLeod said.

‘‘At the moment it’s like pulling teeth. We’re trying to do too much. When we got it right we built pressure and kept the Breakers out of their running game, but in the end they overran us and made some big plays.

‘‘With only eight points in the final quarter we struggled to get a total that was going to be competitive.’’

Trailing the Breakers by 10 at half-time, the Hawks finally won a third quarter to get back in the game.

But they had no answers for the all-round contributions of New Zealand import Cedric Jackson. The American guard finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Wollongong also had trouble handling centre Ekene Ibekwe, who tallied 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Hawks centre Larry Davidson was elevated into the starting five for the first time this season and was his team’s best player with 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Hawks held the New Zealand Breakers to 71 points on Friday night in Auckland, which included an implausible three-point output in the entire third quarter.

But Wollongong scored just 13 themselves in the same 10-minute span and were restricted to eight in the final quarter, as the Breakers secured a 71-55 victory to move up to third spot.

Creating and making shots on a consistent basis has been an issue for the last-placed Hawks all season, particularly the past two weeks.

They started the season full of promise, racking up 92 points and making 49 per cent of their shots in an opening-night triumph over Townsville.

Aside from an 89-point effort at 48 per cent a week later against Cairns, Wollongong’s glaring inability to keep the scoreboard ticking is the reason why they have lost nine straight since the first-round defeat of Townsville.

The Hawks are averaging 71.9 points per game, making just 39.6 per cent of their shot attempts and a mere 29.3 per cent from three-point range. In the past two games they have averaged 53.5 points at 31 per cent and knocked down a measly 18 per cent of their three-point shots.

With the finals almost out of reach a third of the way into the season, Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod will be hoping his side’s offence finally clicks in this weekend’s road double against Cairns and Townsville.

‘‘The pleasing thing [against New Zealand] was we competed well, our disruption was reasonable and we built some pressure on the defensive end, but we are really struggling offensively as a group and we really have to find a way to play,’’ McLeod said.

‘‘At the moment it’s like pulling teeth. We’re trying to do too much. When we got it right we built pressure and kept the Breakers out of their running game, but in the end they overran us and made some big plays.

‘‘With only eight points in the final quarter we struggled to get a total that was going to be competitive.’’

Trailing the Breakers by 10 at half-time, the Hawks finally won a third quarter to get back in the game.

But they had no answers for the all-round contributions of New Zealand import Cedric Jackson. The American guard finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Wollongong also had trouble handling centre Ekene Ibekwe, who tallied 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Hawks centre Larry Davidson was elevated into the starting five for the first time this season and was his team’s best player with 12 points and nine rebounds.