Darnell Mee guaranteed his 200th National Basketball League game would be a memorable milestone with a match winning display for the Wollongong Hawks at the Sandpit.

The Hawks dug themselves out of a huge hole to score a thrilling 110-101 victory over the Melbourne Tigers and it was Mee who sparked Wollongong back into the game.

Melbourne held the early advantage, leading 31-27 at quarter time, but they blew the Hawks out of the game in the second term.

Andrew Gaze hit a three-point shot midway through the second that put the Tigers up by 20 points, and with their offence in top gear they had the Hawks sensing trouble.

The margin was closed slightly before halftime, but Melbourne's 64-50 advantage ensured a passionate Wollongong dressing room at the break.

With Hawks coach Brendan Joyce imploring his troops to battle Melbourne "in the trenches", the dividends came as soon as the second half began.

The turn around was stunning as the Hawks defence went to work on the Tigers, and with just three minutes to go in the third, Mee hit a three-point bomb to close the gap to one, on his way to 10 points for the quarter.

Following the example set by Mee, Ben Knight then hit a basket that put Wollongong in front for the first time since the third minute of the game in sight of the three quarter time break.

So dominant were the Hawks that they put together an 18-0 run, broken only by a last minute Tigers basket, for a 33-14 third quarter, giving them an 83-78 lead with a quarter to play.

Melbourne showed they were far from finished as they stayed close in the fourth and with under two minutes left the game belonged to anybody as they closed to within two points.

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