Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod knows basketball isn’t a one-man game but he’s confident new import Ayinde Ubaka can inspire the Hawks to a late-season run in the NBL.

Ubaka was outstanding in his Hawks debut in a 90-68 thumping of former team Melbourne in Wollongong on Friday night.

The American was a man on a mission after being dramatically sacked by the Tigers on January 15 directly after a loss.

He responded by posting 15 points off the bench for his new team as they broke a seven-game losing streak.

McLeod says Ubaka’s personal motivation to prove himself has rubbed off on the rest of the side, and he’s confident the last-placed Hawks can rid themselves of the wooden spoon and surge up the ladder in the final rounds.

Wollongong aren’t saying he’s their saviour, but Ubaka looks set for a starting berth in the upcoming clash with the Gold Coast.

“I think the Hawks are going to be the beneficiaries of that situation because he’s certainly very motivated and he was really just very pleased and excited to be playing in the NBL again,” said McLeod.

“From the first day he arrived in Wollongong, he’s been very enthusiastic about playing.

“Obviously, he is really rapt he’s been able to continue playing in the NBL.

“The challenge for us is to bring him up to speed with our systems of play and … what he’s shown in the short time is exactly why we were really keen to have him involved with our group.

“We just feel he’s going to complement the other players we have on our roster. He’s going to complement them extremely well.

“We don’t see Ayinde as being the white knight and our saviour, but we are certainly very excited with how we envisage how our team is going to develop with him involved.”

In the big match of round 17, Perth accounted for third-placed Townsville Crocodiles 87-55 at Challenge Stadium on Saturday night, setting up a top-of-the-table blockbuster with New Zealand on Thursday.

A record crowd in Auckland of nearly 8000 saw the Breakers destroy Sydney 93-64, as they notched up their fourth straight win and sent an ominous warning to the Wildcats as the NBL starts to heat up.

Earlier in the round, Townsville beat Adelaide 79-69 at home before things went sour a couple of days later against Perth.