The Tall Blacks have suffered their first loss in the FIBA Asia Cup, going down 86-72 to Lebanon in group play.
Taki Fahrensohn led the Kiwis with 21 points (going 4-6 from downtown), while Kruz Perrott-Hunt had 10 points and Sam Timmins tallied 8 points & 9 rebounds in the loss.
For Lebanon, Wael Arakji with 25 points & 7 assists, while Hayk Gyokchyan registered 19 points & 7 rebounds.
The Tall Blacks built a 16-11 lead midway through the first quarter, thanks to 5 points from Fahrensohn and a timely triple from Murray; a Cameron jumper giving the Kiwis a 22-17 advantage heading into the break. The Tall Blacks defence helping to limit Lebanon to 6-17 shooting in the period, including 0-6 from outside.
Lebanon worked hard in the second to close the gap, with Arakji’s assist to Gyokchyan and subsequent jumper giving Lebanon a 25-24 lead four minutes in the period – the Kiwis held to just 2 points in the first four minutes.
They took a 39-36 lead into half-time, thanks to 5 straight points from Arakji to close the period; Fahrensohn doing his part to help keep the score close, thanks to his 8 points (including a pair of triples) in the quarter.
The kiwis shooting woes continues into the third, with the Tall Blacks held to a single free throw in the first three minutes of the half before Perrott-Hunt drained a jumper – part of a personal 8-0 scoring run by the point to equalise the game at 45 all. New Zealand would end the period trailing Lebanon 53-57; the Kiwis shooting 4-15 in the quarter.
Lebanon would extend their lead to 68-60 in the fourth, thanks to consecutive triples by Gyokchyan on Arakji assists; the point guard stamping his mark on the game with a pair of layups, 4 assists and multiple drawn fouls in a pivotal fourth quarter charge.
Despite the best efforts on Fahrensohn and Britt, Lebanon out-scored the Kiwis 29-19 in the fourth while hitting 7-11 shots from outside the arc – earning them a 86-72, their second of the tournament to place them in first place in Group D.
The Tall Blacks will look to bounce back in their next game, versus Philippines @ 1am NZT on Mon 18 July. Although they won the rebounding battle 49-40 against Lebanon, they know they will need to vastly improve on their 37% shooting, their turnovers (15 to 3) and free throw shooting – the team going just 13-21.
Stats:
New Zealand 72 – Fahrensohn 21PTS | Perrott-Hunt 10PTS & 5REB | Timmins 8PTS & 9REB | Cameron 8PTS | Britt 7PTS | Murray 6PTS & 5REB | Smith-Milner 4PTS & 8REB | Hunt 2PTS | Mennenga 5PTS & 6REB | Darling 1PT |
Lebanon 86 – Arakji 25PTS & 7ASS | Gyokchyan 19PTS & 17REB | Arledge 18PTS & 9REB
Quarter scores: 22-17, 36-39, 48-57, 72-86.
Full Stats here:
Tall Blacks Asia Cup Schedules (All Times NZT)
- Vs India, 4pm NZT Wed 13 July (W 100-47)
- Vs Lebanon, 1am NZT, Sat 16 July (L 72-86)
- Vs Philippines, 1am NZT, Mon 18 July
Tall Blacks Squad – FIBA Asia Cup 2022
Flynn Cameron, Riverside California (3 caps)
Isaac Davidson, NZ Breakers / Franklin Bulls (2 caps)
Jordan Hunt, Hawkes Bay Hawks (3 caps)
Kane Keil, Franklin Bulls (2 caps)
Kruz Perrott-Hunt, University of South Dakota (4 caps)
Max Darling, Canterbury Rams (2 caps)
Sam Mennenga, Davidson College (2 caps)
Sam Timmins, NZ Breakers / Otago Nuggets (14 caps)
Taine Murray, University of Virginia (5 caps)
Taki Fahrensohn, Auckland Tuatara (5 caps)
Taylor Britt, Canterbury Rams (6 caps)
Tohi Smith-Milner, Sandringham Sabres (41 caps)
