After waiting the best part of a month to exact their Wollongong revenge on Friday night, the Breakers needed just 24 hours to consolidate their spot at the top of the Australian NBL.

The North Shore club backed up on Friday's big-time victory in the 'Gong over previous leaders the Hawks, with a 90-80 win over the Tigers in Melbourne.

Paced by some fourth-quarter heroics from star shooting guard Kirk Penney, who drilled four three-pointers over the run home, the Breakers shook loose of the Tigers to extend their NBL winning streak to five.

More importantly, it not only took the Breakers to a league-best 10-2 record, but their road mark this season to a remarkable 6-1.

Penney made six of 10 from beyond the arc as he contributed a game-high 25 points in a win that was commendable if only because it came just 24 hours after such an emotional victory over the Hawks. It also confirmed the Tall Black's unequivocal return to his MVP-calibre form.

American forward Gary Wilkinson added 18 points (8/12 FG), compatriot Kevin Braswell a crucial 16 (5/8 FG) to go with a handful of assists and Tom Abercrombie regained form with 10 points on just five shots. The Breakers largely kept Tigers danger man Corey Williams in check, though he still registered the season's first triple-double with 19 points, 12 boards and 10 assists.

The match had been anybody's heading into the final quarter, with the scores level, but as is their way this season the Kiwis owned the final quarter which they won by 10 points (26-16).

A day earlier the Breakers had been over the moon to level the account with the Hawks after being embarrassed by them on their home court back on November 19 in being held to their lowest ever points since entering the league.

But all that seething and scheming, all that brooding and building paid a rich dividend as the Breakers held on to topple the Hawks 89-85 and snap a 15-game home winning streak for the men from the Gong. The victory, achieved with one or two more late anxious moments than were strictly necessary, also saw the Breakers take sole ownership of the title favourite's position with Aussie bookies.

"We really wanted to make a statement with this game and make amends for that performance against them," said a delighted Abercrombie after the Hawks match.

"We set ourselves a big challenge to break that winning streak they have at that stadium, and everyone's pretty satisfied we achieved it."

The foundation was laid on the back of an outstanding third quarter from the Breakers which they won 25-13 to take a 12-point lead into the final term.

It turned out the Kiwis needed almost every bit of that cushion as the Hawks swooped on the back of a 16-point final quarter from star import Gary Ervin and very nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback.

 "We held on at the end," conceded Abercrombie who had a quiet game with just two points and a rebound. "They came back pretty fired up in those last few minutes, but we made the plays when we had to. It was another game where our pressure wore them down over the game. Sometimes that's all it takes to win."

The Breakers got another quality game from Penney even if he was overshadowed by Ervin's 31 points, seven assists and four boards to offset six turnovers.

Penney poured in 22 points on eight-of-17 shooting while Wilkinson continued his rock-solid form with another composed all-round effort (15 points/seven rebounds) and crafty CJ Bruton also added 15 big points on just seven shots. Braswell hit a couple of big late shots for 11 points, while Mika Vukona was his busy self with only some free-throw woes preventing him adding to his nine points and six boards.

Abercrombie credited the Breakers' attacking mindset in the third quarter with leaving the Hawks with too much to do in the final stanza.

"They've won 15 in row there for a reason and we're very happy to have snapped that streak," said Abercrombie. "We're really focused, because we want to go into the Christmas break on top, with the right mindset and momentum."

On Friday: Wollongong Hawks 85 (Gary Ervin 31, Glen Saville 12, Tim Coenraad 12, Larry Davidson 11), NZ Breakers 89 (Kirk Penney 22, Gary Wilkinson 15, CJ Bruton 15, Kevin Braswell 11). 1Q: 24-27; HT: 47-47; 3Q: 60-72.

On Saturday: Melbourne Tigers 80 (Corey Williams 19, Eric Devendorf 17, Luke Nevill 14, Cameron Tragardh 10), Breakers 90 (Kirk Penney 25, Gary Wilkinson 18 Kevin Braswell 16, Tom Abercrombie10). 1Q: 29-22; HT: 47-44; 3Q: 64-64.

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The New Zealand Breakers have surged to the top of the Australian NBL table with a streak-busting, revenge-minded Friday night victory at the Wollongong Hawks.

The Breakers prevailed 89-85 on the back of a brilliant third quarter that saw them turn a 47-47 halftime deadlock into a 12-point lead heading into the final period. They needed that cushion over the run home as the Hawks made a late run to get within two inside the final minute.

The road win - the Kiwi club's fifth from six this season - takes the Breakers to a league-best 9-2, and drops the Hawks to 8-3.

The New Zealanders, who survived a shaky moment or two late, were led by 22 points from scoring kingpin Kirk Penney (8/17 FG, 2/6 3PT), but also got solid efforts from in-form big man Gary Wilkinson (15 points/7 rebounds) and veteran Aussie CJ Bruton (15 points, 4/7 FG) who was a perfect five-of-five from the line.

Point guard Kevin Braswell has another mixed bag, grabbing 11 points (4/9 FG) but nearly gifting the game to the Hawks with two of his four turnovers coming in the final minute. Hard-working forward Mika Vukona added nine points and six boards for the visitors.

The Hawks were propelled as usual by the NBL's leading scorer with Gary Ervin pouring in 31 points, 16 of them in the final term, and adding seven assists. But the Breakers managed to do a much better job this time on former player Oscar Forman who was kept to just eight points (3/8 FG). Larry Davidson had a busy night for the Australians with 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Glen Saville and Tim Coenraad weighed in with a dozen apiece.
 
The victory, which avenged the Breakers' round-six 73-57 home defeat to the Hawks, was a notable one. It ended the Wollongong club's home winning streak at 15 all told (one short of their club record) and five for this season.

It also levelled the season series at 1-1 between these two sides who look playoff bound.

But most importantly it confirmed the North Shore club as genuine title contenders this season on the back of a win that was as impressive as anything they've managed this season.

The Breakers made a useful start on the back of 10-first-quarter points from Penney and led by as many as 11 through the opening stanza and 27-24 at the end of it.

But the Hawks were clearly buoyed by the 8-0 run they made to close the opening quarter and soon retook the lead early in the second spell, before allowing the visitors to work back to 47-47 by the major break.

The Breakers meet the Tigers in Melbourne on Saturday night to complete the weekend road double-header.

Wollongong Hawks 85 (Gary Ervin 31, Glen Saville 12, Tim Coenraad 12, Larry Davidson 12), NZ Breakers 89 (Kirk Penney 22, Gary Wilkinson 15, CJ Bruton 15, Kevin Braswell 11); 1Q: 24-27; HT: 47-47; 3Q: 60-72.