A week after being blasted by coach Rob Beveridge for their commitment on the boards and on defence in their last-start loss to Perth, the Hawks conceded 54 points in the first half and were out-hustled on the boards 39-29.

Star import Jerome Randle led the 36rs with 20 points and six assists but it was big men Anthony Petrie and Daniel Johnson who really did the damage from the low block.

Petrie had 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter while Johnson finished with 15 points,16 rebounds and two blocks in a dominant display on the glass.

Kevin Lisch top-scored for Illawarra with 19 points with AJ Ogilvy (17) and Kirk Penney (15) both reaching double figures but it was rebounding that again proved their Achilles heel.

“[rebounding] in the first quarter was horrible,” Beveridge said.

“I think it was 13-2 or something. It’s something we need to address.”

It leaves the Hawks languishing outside the top four at 4-6 for the season ahead of a much-needed stretch of four straight games at home starting with Wednesday’s clash with last-placed Sydney on Wednesday.

Petrie got the home side off to a flyer with nine points in the opening six minutes to finish the opening term with 11 points while Johnson contributed nine to give the 36rs a 33-24 lead at the first break.

Adelaide pushed the lead out to 14 points midway through the second quarter but Penney kept the Hawks in the clash with 14 points in the opening half as the visitors out-scored home side 22-21 in the second term.

Illawarra switched to zone midway through the second quarter to slow the 36rs momentum but hit just two of 12 from the field in the third term to trail by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter.

The Hawks pegged the margin back to 10 points midway through the quarter before Randle ignited down the stretch to get the 36rs home.