Tyler Harvey, take a bow.
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On a cold evening in Launceston, the Hawks star shot the lights out, scoring 29 points as Illawarra recorded a 75-67 win over the Breakers.
Harvey did the bulk of his damage in the first half, while teammate Justin Simon mustered 11 points, six rebounds and a massive block late in the fourth to ice the game.
For the Breakers, Tai and Corey Webster combined for 24 points, while Tom Abercrombie scored 14 points.
The Hawks - who officially parted ways with Deng Adel on Monday - received a boost ahead of the game, with Justinian Jessup passing a fitness test. The issue appeared to cause him concern in the first quarter, but the Next Star returned in the second half.
Harvey and Tai Webster were hot early for their respective sides, nailing two apiece from long range.
Sam Froling and AJ Ogilvy also hit the scoreboard early, but the Breakers drained back-to-back three-pointers to lead 12-10. Sam Froling then mustered a lay up and free throw, before the Breakers went on a 7-0 run.
Illawarra managed a 7-2 run to stay within touch, but Corey Webster's late jump shot gave the Breakers a 23-18 lead at quarter time.
The Breakers came out firing in the second with a Rasmus Bach three-pointer, before the Hawks responded through an Ogilvy basket and free throw.
The game continued to move from end-to-end as the Breakers led 33-30, highlighted by Tai Webster's third basket from long range.
With under four minutes remaining, Corey Webster again drilled one from long range to give the Breakers a 38-31 advantage. From there, it was the Tyler Harvey show. The Hawks went on a 9-2 run, with the 27-year-old tipping in six points, to draw level at 40-40 at the main break.
Harvey finished the half with a personal tally of 21 points, going at 70 per cent from the field, and five steals. For the Breakers, the Websters combined for 20 points - including 5/6 from long range - and Tom Abercrombie tipped in eight points.
The Breakers again started the quarter with a three-pointer through Abercrombie. Jessup then nailed a jump shot, but the hosts responded to lead 47-42.
Jessup scored four of the game's next six points, before the Breakers again settled, going on a 6-3 run to take a 55-49 advantage.
But, once again, the Hawks finished strongly, scoring 11 of the next 13 points to lead 58-57 at the final break.
The Hawks came firing out in the last, going on a 8-2 run to extend their lead to 65-59, with Harvey scoring two baskets. Froling's hook shot gave Illawarra a handy eight-point buffer while, at the other end, New Zealand's shooting was proving ice cold.
Simon then hit two free throws, before Harvey drained one from long range to give the Hawks a 72-59 lead. However, Breakers big man Will McDowell-White scored back-to-back three-pointers, before Tai Webster's basket cut the margin to five points.
However, Harvey ended the 8-0 run with a free throw, before Simon sealed the game with a massive block in defence. Isaac White's two late free throws put the icing on the cake for Illawarra.