SOUTH East Melbourne have made NBL history at Illawarra's expense, going 3-0 with a 106-103 win over the Hawks at Melbourne Arena on Saturday night.
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The Hawks were game against the NBL newbies but ultimately fell short after another offensive masterclass from Phoenix import John Roberson.
Roberson backed up a 30-point performance against Brisbane last week with 26 points against the Hawks, 12 in the final quarter to seal his side's third straight win.
Mitch Creek also had 23 points and 10 rebounds to help see off the Hawks, who were led by Aaron Brooks' 23 points.
The NBA veteran also had five assists but continues to be plagued by foul trouble, forced to sit the final moments as his side was edged out down the stretch.
Todd Blanchfield had 12 of his 15 points in the first half, while Tim Coenraad again made the most of a start in the four spot with 16 points and 4-7 from long range.
Ben Madgen had 12 of his 14 points in the first half that saw the hosts lead by seven, while Dane Pineau had his first NBL double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Sam Froling had 10 points and six rebounds in just 12 minutes on the floor but it wasn't enough for the Hawks to avoid a 1-3 start to their campaign.
They'll need to bounce back quickly against Adelaide on their home floor on Monday, the 36ers looking to rebound from a 22-point defeat to Sydney in Saturday's earlier fixture.
Blanchfield had two from the line and Coenraad had his first triple as the Hawks led 5-0 early, but they conceded the next 11 straight points to trail by six after five minutes.
Madgen had four on an 11-0 run before AJ Ogilvy grabbed his first points on a dish from LaMelo Ball - the first of five dimes in the opening term for the NBA draft aspirant.
Crockett and Blanchfield traded threes, the latter sparking a 7-0 run that locked things up at 19 apiece.
Adam Gibson took a 26-21 lead with his first three from the bench, but a nice runner from Blanchfield saw him finish with nine for the quarter and the score at 26-23 to the hosts.
Roberson had a three to start the second term that quickly turned into a basket for basket duel, with Pineau grabbing four and Froling also grabbing four from the bench.
Madgen kept things ticking over for his side, with a three and a couple more from the line to finish with 12 for the quarter, while Blanchfield also had 12 at halftime that saw the Phoenix lead 53-46.
Coenraad started the third term with a three in a quarter that saw both sides find their range from deep.
Blanchfield and Stephens traded threes before Brooks and Roberson did the same, Ball chiming in with a drought-breaking three to bring the Hawks back within four.
Brooks had a three-point play and Creek had two of them back to back after the Haws briefly took the lead through Coenraad.
Froling also got going from the line, with six points in the quarter as the Hawks trailed by just two at the final break.
It put them within reach of the upset but the fourth quarter belonged to Roberson, who scored 10 of his side's last 14 points to seal the win.