Mitch Creek has celebrated his 300th NBL game milestone with a 27-point haul to lead South East Melbourne to a record-setting 112-78 win over the struggling Illawarra Hawks.
The home side dominated Sunday's match-up at John Cain Arena to set a club record for the largest winning margin in the 34-point victory - overtaking the previous high mark of 32 points against the Hawks two seasons ago.
Averaging a career-best 22.3 points per game to lead the league in scoring, Creek maintained his recent hot form with another high-energy performance as the Phoenix chalked up back-to-back wins to improve to 7-5 for the season.
The former Adelaide 36ers forward with playing experience in the NBA and Europe, became the marquee player for the Phoenix when they entered the competition in 2019 and has entrenched himself as a fan favourite over 102 games with the franchise.
"Obviously, Creeky's 300th - we had to get up for it. He means so much to this club, to this league and to the guys in the locker room," teammate Ryan Broekhoff said about the 30-year-old Creek.
"We love him, we cherish him and it was all about doing our best and putting in a good effort for him on his big day."
All five starters for the Phoenix scored in double figures with Trey Kell III (24 points), Alan Williams (21 points, 12 rebounds), Broekhoff (15 points) and Gary Browne (11 points, eight assists) each playing pivotal roles in the win.
"We've got so many different options that it produces open shots for guys and look, some nights you don't make it but tonight was a night that it felt like everything was dropping and it was a fun night," Broekhoff said about the Phoenix line-up.
Anchored to the bottom of the table with a 1-9 record, Illawarra were hoping to replicate their round-two performance against the Phoenix where they claimed their only victory of the season so far.
The visitors made a promising start with former Perth import Michael Frazier II marking his Hawks debut with a couple of early baskets but Broekhoff responded with a three-pointer and Creek added 10 points as South East Melbourne closed the first term ahead 27-17.
Williams kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Phoenix in the second quarter with a 10-point burst while Broekhoff joined Creek on 13 points apiece in the opening half with a late three-pointer to extend the home team's advantage to 54-38.
Illawarra battled hard to stay in the fight after halftime.
Peyton Siva and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk combined to bring the margin down to nine points early in the third quarter but South East Melbourne's multitude of scorers took control of the game to build an unassailable 84-58 edge with a quarter to play.
