The presence of Hawks legends Glen Saville and Mat Campbell failed to inspire Wollongong to victory on Friday at WIN Entertainment Centre.

On a night when the club paid tribute to yesterday’s heroes as part of NBL Heritage Week celebrations, the Hawks went down 89-85 to the Adelaide 36ers, following the vexing close-but-no-cigar script which has become their trademark.

Wollongong’s seventh consecutive defeat left their record at 3-19 with six games remaining and effectively guaranteed them the wooden spoom.

Win-starved Hawks fans were hoping for the best when scores were locked at 79-all with less than two minures remaining.

But the 36ers held their nerve under pressure, sinking clutch shots to clinch their fourth straight victory and stay firmly in the finals race.

Tim Coenraad led the Hawks with 20 points but was fuming after after being controversially fouled out in the fourth quarter.

Jahhi Carson and Oscar Forman finished with 13 apiece, Gary Ervin added 10, while Brad Hill had 12 in an impressive performance off the bench.

Brock Motum tallied 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Sixers and Mitch Creek had 16 points.

Jamar Wilson was instrumental with 17, while Adam Gibson and Luke Schenscher combined for 20.

Wollongong were smashed 46-32 in the rebounding department and were unable to deliver a win for centre Larry Davidson in his 200th game for the club.

’’We can get close enough but we just can’t get over that last hump,’’ Davidson said.

’’It gets frustrating but we’ll keep trying.’’

The offensive-minded Sixers immediately signalled their intentions, pushing the ball at every opportunity and taking quick shots.

The Hawks followed suit, matching their opponents in the speed department and building a 15-10 lead.

But Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod had a concerned look in his eye, knowing the fast pace and scant focus on defence suited Adelaide more than his own side.

Sure enough, the Sixers peeled off a 13-2 run in the blink of an eye, maint aining the momentum in the closing minutes for a 28-24 quarter-time lead.

Gibson had seven points and three assists and Motum racked up six points, three rebounds and a steal.

Coenraad, Ervin and Forman each had five points for Wollongong.

The frenetic scoring pace slowed and the game was tied at 30-all early in the second period.

But Motum was virtually unstoppable, grabbing rebounds, hitting threes and twisting around defenders for lay-ups, as Adelaide carved out a 41-35 lead.

Coenraad kept the home team close with 12 points in the quarter, but the Sixers destroyed the Hawks under the boards (28-15) and were up 46-41 at half-time.

Motum was the standout with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Gibson was up to nine points.

Coenraad headed to the bench with his third foul early in the third quarter and the Sixers gradually stretched the margin to eight.

Wollongong ffought back, as Ervin scored on a couple of strong drives and Forman nailed a three.

The Sixers responded again, taking advantage of their opponents’ sloppy defence and taking a 70-61 lead into the final period.

The Hawks typically charged back with one last surge to make it exciting, only to fall short once again.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 89 (B Motum 18 J Wilson 17 M Creek 16) bt WOLLONGONG HAWKS 85 (T Coenraad 20 O Forman 13 J Carson 13).