The Wollongong Hawks have flown back to the top of the NBL ladder with a Glen Saville-inspired 85-72 win over the Adelaide 36ers in a fiery showdown at Distinctive Homes Dome.

Saville led the championship favourites with 19 points and 13 rebounds while teammate Adam Ballinger added 18 points in a match that threatened to explode out of control.

Passions ignited from the outset - 36ers big man Paul Rees entered the match mid-way through the first quarter and was given a technical foul within minutes after constant bickering with officials and the Hawks.

Tension also mounted through the rivalry between ex-36ers import Darnell Mee and Adelaide guard Willie Farley, with the pair clashing and almost sparking a brawl in the final quarter.

Adelaide was looking down the barrel from the outset without injured Boomers guard Brett Maher (hamstring) but import Dusty Rychart tried valiantly with 18 points and 15 rebounds while Farley had 16 points and five assists.

Also for Adelaide, forward David Cooper was strong in defence with 10 rebounds, rookie Brad Hill had 11 points and young guard Darren Ng finished with 12 points.

The match started like an arm wrestle with the Hawks grabbing a one point buffer at quartertime.

In the second quarter the Sixers threatened to break the game open, only for the Hawks' quick hands to reel in Adelaide and set up a 41-37 halftime break.

Rychart, quiet by his usual standards in the first half, burst into the game in the third, dominating in all areas but the Hawks continued to charge ahead.

Hawk Andrew Rice - who grabbed 12 points - tried to sum up the physical encounter.

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