After scratching out a one-point lead at quarter-time, the Hawks were clinically dissected by the Wildcats, suffering a 69-59 loss.

The Hawks slipped to 1-2 for the season and will be aiming to bounce back when they host undefeated leaders Cairns (3-0) on Sunday.

Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod would’ve been heartened by his team’s defensive effort, which kept the reigning champions under 70.

But the Hawks are still a long way from functioning as a smooth, efficient offensive unit.

Wollongong were without centre Larry Davidson, who is a good chance of playing his first game of the season on Sunday against Cairns at WIN Entertainment Centre.

The Hawks lost the rebound battle 34-29 and were out-scored 40-14 on points in the paint.

They had 19 turnovers to Perth’s 11 and hit just 40 per cent of their shots compared to 44 per cent for the Cats.

American guard Jahii Carson finished with a game-high 19 points for Wollongong but also had six turnovers.

Gary Ervin and Tim Coenraad had 10 points each for the Hawks, while Adam Ballinger and Brad Hill combined for 12 off the bench.

Forward DeAndre Daniels led Perth with 16 and veteran Shawn Redhage had 15 in his 300th NBL game. Daniels also chalked up 13 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

Wollongong started positively, building a 9-6 lead before the Cats worked their way in front by a point.

The Hawks were up for the fight and pulled ahead by two, but Perth replied with five unanswered points.

Carson pounced on a loose ball and made two free throws after being fouled, while Hill grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a difficult shot on the buzzer to put the visitors up 19-18 at quarter-time.

The lead changed hands again with Jesse Wagstaff’s three-pointer in transition early in the second quarter.

Perth out-scored their opponents 9-3 in the first four minutes before Coenraad nailed a three and then tied the game with a jump-shot in the paint.

Again the Cats responded, peeling off 10 straight points to regain the upper hand.

Carson broke the drought with a three, but the Hawks became increasingly disjointed at both ends of the floor and the home side held a 39-30 half-time lead.

Wollongong could only manage 11 points in the second period and had seven turnovers.

Coenraad led his side with 10 points and Carson had nine, but the Hawks hit just 4/13 three-point shots in the half.

Redhage had 12 points at half-time, while import guard Jermaine Beal was up to seven.

The Wildcats continued to rely on scrambling defence to confuse the Hawks, whose scoring all but dried up in the third quarter.

The margin swelled to 13 before Wollongong gave themselves hope by cutting the deficit to seven after three periods with Ervin’s first three of the night.

It was down to five early in the fourth quarter before Perth steadied again to move ahead by 11 with six minutes remaining.

Perth’s first win of the season followed last week’s 10-point home loss to New Zealand.