A 40-point second quarter helped the Hawks to a much-needed win in a fiery clash that saw three players ejected and nine technical fouls handed out.

Adelaide star Jacob Wiley was the first player to be sent packing when he fired up at Jordair Jett in the first half before Hawks veterans David Andersen and Tim Coenraad were both forced to have an early shower.

Andersen had to hit the road after a hard foul on Nathan Sobey and Coenraad picked up a pair of technicals after getting involved in the first incident.

The confrontation seemed to spark the Hawks on their home floor. 

"We showed a soft underbelly but tonight we really stood up to the physicality," Hawks coach Rob Beveridge said.

"They want to ram it down your throat and get on the glass.

“That's how they play the game and they do a hell of a job of doing that. I think we dictated the tempo for the majority of the game, obviously the last five minutes wasn't good but when you miss 17 free throws it makes it a lot closer.

"We came out with the mindset and I hope this could be the turning point for us."

Hawks sharpshooter Todd Blanchfield led all scorers with 24 points while AJ Ogilvy tallied 19 points and 13 rebounds. Jordair Jett had 18 points and six assists.

Former Hawks star Demitrius Conger scored 22 points off the bench, with Sobey (16 points) and Ramone Moore (15 points) both productive. 

Illawarra seemed to have control of the game early in the first quarter, but a 16-5 run over the final four minutes put the ledger firmly in the visitors favour.

Conger pulled off a pretty spin move and finish to guide them to a 32-27 lead at the first break.

The Hawks started the second with the first 11 points before Sobey broke the drought for Adelaide with back-to-back threes.

Wiley’s afternoon came to an end with five minutes played in the second quarter and Illawarra settled better after the confrontation, kicking out to a nine point lead when Kevin White drained a corner three.

It was a double digit margin when Ogilvy cashed in from the charity stripe to help Illawarra to a 65-53 half time lead.

Illawarra’s lead had ballooned out to 20 points just two minutes after the main break when Cedric Jackson drove to the basket and finished.

When Andersen got his marching orders for a hard foul on Sobey, both sides erupted.

A corner three from Sixers big man Harry Froling gave the visitors a hope at 85-75 heading into the fourth quarter.

Despite losing Coenraad, the Hawks stayed composed and kept the scoreboard ticking thanks to an inspired Daniel Grida.

The final five minutes were a mere formality as Illawarra finished the job to move to 4-7 for the campaign.