ANOTHER dominant performance from MVP favourite Bryce Cotton led the Adelaide 36ers to a come from behind win over the Illawarra Hawks in the National Basketball League (NBL) Ignite Cup action last night.

Cotton delivered an astounding performance on his home deck at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night, despite the fact that his team trailed at the main break against the reigning champions. However, the five-time MVP was able to lift the home side on the offensive end, and had plenty of help from big man Isaac Humphries.

It was slated as a big match coming into the contest, with both sides staking their claim on the championship over recent weeks. The Sixers entered the game in second spot on the ladder, with Cotton leading the way, while the Hawks had overcome a slow start to breathe some life into their title defence and knock off some quality sides.

Although the visiting side were able to lead at half -time, the Sixers took over the match in the final 20 minutes of the contest, completely snatching the momentum and storming home to a 12-point win to further their championship credentials.

Adelaide 36ers (97) def. Illawarra Hawks (85)

The Hawks started strongly in enemy territory, looking like the side that won it all last year and putting the pressure back on Adelaide. The reigning champions led by as much as nine points as their big names put the Sixers to the sword with some blistering offensive sets, and impressively not relying too much on JaVale McGee on the scoring front.

At the main change, the Hawks led by five points, and although the Sixers had done well not to let the match get out of hand, it was still needed to be an improved effort in the second half if they were going to take the lead after trailing all match.

It could not have been a better response from the home side, who flicked a switch on the back of some dominant play from their star off-season recruit. Cotton feasted on Illawarra’s defence, with the main highlight coming in the form of a four-point play that ignited Adelaide Entertainment Centre and certainly sent an ominous warning to the Hawks.

As expected, Cotton was his usual unstoppable self on the scoring front, but it was his passing that truly broke the game open. He formed a damaging partnership with Humphries, dishing off three assists to the big man in the third quarter alone as the pair helped the Sixers to a 10-2 run on the eve of three quarter time, which gave Adelaide a lead it never surrendered from there.

Cotton was able to lift his team to victory with 31 points on 11/21 shooting from the field, but this performance will be remembered for his passing. The guard dished out 13 assists and was able to create for others, showing immense care with the ball by committing zero turnovers in an astoundingly tidy performance that drove his team to victory.

He combined well with Humphries, who finished with 22 points and nine rebounds on 11/16 shooting, comfortably winning his battle with McGee, who found the going tough with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, while shooting just 4/18 from the field.

For the Hawks, Tyler Harvey fought hard to keep his team in the fight, finishing with 21 points (10/11 FT), while Quentin Peterson (19 points, four rebounds, four assists) and William Hickey (12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) also proved to be productive despite the loss in South Australia.