Brisbane emerged from a turbulent week to knock off National Basketball League leader Wollongong 111-93 just four days after sacking powerhouse American import Kevin Freeman.

It was the Hawks' third straight loss and could have bumped them off the top of the NBL tree with Adelaide on the same number of wins.

Freeman's shock exit on medical grounds had critics suggesting the Bullets were finished as a championship team after parting with one of the League's most explosive players.

But as often happens when a star player or coach is axed, Brisbane's players responded to the challenge and to their critics with a performance which would have given their fans a lot of heart.

Daniel Egan replaced Freeman and they attacked the Hawks from the tip-off with skipper Derek Rucker missing a three-pointer one pass into the offensive but making the Bullets' intentions clear from the outset.

Rucker finished with 21 points, four rebounds, five assists and turned the ball over just once in another classy performance from the point.

A 14-point second quarter off the bench from Simon Kerle, who finished with a game equal high 29 points with Wollongong's Glen Saville, ignited a 22-4 run by Brisbane and blew the game open with the Bullets racing out to a 48-29 lead.

Brisbane led 57-48 at half time but early in the third quarter looked to have lost their way when the Hawks pulled back to trail 60-56 after Andrew Rice, Darnell Mee and Glen Saville all scored buckets.

Stephen Black (14 points) stepped up in the crucial third term with a three pointer and two drives to the hoop as Brisbane against slipped out to an 86-75 three quarter time lead.

A seven-point unanswered opening to the final quarter in which guard Mick Hill's opening triple was backed up by two stylish Egan baskets got the Bullets back out to a 20-point lead and they cruised home with three bench players, Peni Nasalo, Miles Pearce and man mountain Jason Eversteyn playing the final few minutes.

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