The Adelaide 36ers finally found some form to snap a four-game losing streak and revive their stuttering season with a 113-86 thrashing of Townsville at the Distinctive Homes Dome..

After a slow start the 36ers produced a brilliant second half display to pick up only their second win of the season against a Crocodiles side that had entered the game as favourites.

The star of the show was US import Willie Farley who produced his best form of the season to sink 31 points for the home side, while the consistent Nick Horvath (22) and Lanard Copeland (21) were also significant contributors.

For the hapless Crocs Larry Abney fought hard to keep his side in the contest with an 18-point haul, along with Daniel Egan (18) and Brad Newley (15).

A clearly disappointed Townsville side quickly left the stadium straight after the game, skipping the post-game press conference, but 36ers centre Brett Wheeler said the win had lifted a big weight off his side.

"We've had some close games and played basketball for a half and not really finishing off, but we were pretty adamant about playing four quarters," he said.

"You could just tell that defensively we were another step up tonight.

"I think that was the big key for us and that's what got us over the line."

After some disjointed performances this season, Wheeler said the 36ers had played with greater understanding.

"Tonight we swung the ball a lot better and moved it back and forth from side to side, spread the defence and everyone got a much better look," he said.

"It looked like a lot better team basketball."

With the 36ers' season falling apart, Wheeler said the criticism of the team's early season form had been fair enough.

"You need a bit of adversity to fire you up and it definitely helped us," he said.

Townsville took an 18-16 lead into the first break after a low scoring quarter characterised by a combination of desperate defence and poor shooting from both sides.

The players looked nervous and the only highlights to lift a subdued home crowd were a pair of three pointers from Adelaide's Darren Ng and Adrian Majstrovich.

The 36ers came out firing early in the second period to quickly take the lead with Farley, Horvath and Ng looking most dangerous.

Midway through the period the 36ers started to pull away as a Copeland three pointer made it 40-29.

The home side led 52-44 at halftime and then produced some of its best basketball of the season after the main break to ensure the badly-needed triumph.

The result still leaves the 36ers struggling near the foot of the NBL table with a 2-5 record, while the Crocodiles remain in the top eight at 4-3.

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