Australia edges China 64-63 at Stankovic Cup
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Defending champions Australia beat China 64-63 at the Stankovic Basketball Continental Cup on Wednesday.
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China's NBA star Yi Jianlian collected a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. |
Matt Nielsen knocked down the key shot with 11 seconds left, saving Australia from one-point behind to one-point ahead. China's Liu Wei, who scored 11 points throughout the game, failed to make the final attempt as China lost the game by one point.
Poor freethrows destroyed China's victory. They got 22 free throw chances, making only 10 of them. Two of the Aussies got double figure, and another three scored eight. Patty Mills tipped a team-high 13 points.
China's NBA star Yi Jianlian collected a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds.
"It was a man's game," said Robert Donewald, head coach of China. "I was happy with my players." China, as the host team of all the six Stankovic Cups, had never became the final winner of the tournament.
Both teams played strong defence at the beginning of the game. They leveled from 2-2 to 14-14. Australia led 17-16 by the end of the first period.
Liu Wei found his rhythm at the second period. His three-pointers allowed China a narrow advantage. Then Wang Zhizhi and Yi's efficient attack widened the gap to 37-28 by the first half whistle.
China once established a 14-point lead in the second half, but Australia drew the score back to 60-60 with 112 seconds left. The away team finally won the game 64-63.
In the previous game, Slovenia outscored Iran 107-74. Sani Becirovic scored a game-high 23 points for Slovenia, with his other three teammates harvesting double figure. Iran's Mahdi Kamrany got 22 points.
Slovenia grabbed 30 rebounds, twice as many as Iran's 15.
Iran's 24-year-old center Asghar Kardoust Poustinsareal pocketed the first five points of the game. His dominating performance allow Iran a 14-4 lead at the beginning. However, Slovenia got back their form to continually trim the gap. They ended the first period 24-18.
Slovenia's Becirovic stood out at the second period. His three-pointers help Slovenia to lead by 58-38 at the end of the first half.
Slovenia controlled the second half, extending the lead to 85-56, and finished the game 107-74.
Stankovic Cup is an inter-continental basketball tournament, held annually in China since 2005.
