Basketball: Australia take series 2-1

5.45pm

Australia won the trans-Tasman men's basketball series 2-1 after beating the Tall Blacks 90-79 in the third test in Invercargill today.

The Tall Blacks paid dearly for a slow start and poor shooting in the opening quarter at Stadium Southland, allowing the Boomers a healthy 18-point buffer. The Australians never surrendered the lead and won every quarter.

New Zealand kept their hopes of a series win alive with a torrent of points in the third quarter, but the Boomers maintained their lead and extended their winning record to 36-4 in all internationals.

The Boomers whipped the Tall Blacks 90-60 in the first test in Hamilton on Friday, but the hosts showed some grit to level the series with a tight 80-75 victory in Christchurch last night.

The Boomers easily won the first quarter today (27-9), dominating the offensive rebounds by nearly two to one while the Tall Blacks rushed their attack, succeeding with only 13 per cent of their field goals.

Stout Boomers defence forced the Tall Blacks to shoot from outside the arc.

New Zealand's scoring improved in the second quarter. At one stage they were ahead 20-19 but Boomers skipper Shane Heal again proved the difference with a quick seven points to take his team ahead 46-29 at halftime.

While the Tall Blacks improved their first-half field goal percentage to 27, it paled compared with the Boomers' 52.

New Zealand's sharp shooters finally fired in the third quarter, rattling on 16 unanswered points with captain Pero Cameron, Craig Bradshaw and Phill Jones leading the charge to cut Australia's lead to 64-58.

However, two three-pointers from John Rillie opened up the gap again even though Jones and Cameron tried hard to keep up with the Australians.

Australia 90 (Matthew Nielsen 25, Shane Heal 15, Andrew Bogut 11)

New Zealand 79 (Phill Jones 19, Pero Cameron 19, Craig Bradshaw 11).

Halftime: 46-29.

- NZPA