Basketball: Tall Blacks lose to Italy

10.45am

ISTANBUL - New Zealand were authors of their own basketball demise, as a poor shooting display led to a 53-69 loss to Italy at the Six Nations tournament in Istanbul today.

New Zealand will now play off for fifth and sixth on Monday morning (NZT) against either Latvia or Russia.

After a promising first half which saw New Zealand hold a three-point advantage at quartertime and the scores tied 34-all at the half, they went off the boil to end the night with some sorry looking statistics.

The team shot just 11 two-point baskets from 40 attempts. New Zealand made some flashy three-pointers including three from shooting guard Phill Jones and two apiece from Ed Book and Paul Henare, but their total of nine from 24 attempts wasn't good enough to match Italy.

There were signs of improvement from New Zealand after their first match in the tournament, a 64-86 loss against Serbia and Montenegro, and coach Tab Baldwin was pleased with the side's defence.

"Offensively we executed at times reasonably well," Baldwin said.

"We had a lot of good shots and a lot of good opportunities -- we just didn't knock the thing down. When you look at those sorts of percentages you are going to have to play some unbelievable defensive basketball to win.

"I thought for three quarters it was a very even game, we just shot poorly. I was much happier with our defence. We probably played to a defensive scheme a little bit better but you have to give Italy's shooters credit, they shot from the three-point line exceptionally well."

Book top-scored for New Zealand with 12 points, while Jones also made it into double figures with 10 points and 11 rebounds -- 10 of those defensive.

For Italy, Roberto Chiacig scored a game high 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Gianluca Basile scored 15.

New Zealand managed to score just 18 points in the entire second half, including just six in the last period, while Italy amassed 35.

Italy 69 (R Chiacig 16, Gianluca Basile 15) New Zealand 53 (E Book 12, P Jones 10).

Quarter scores: NZ 20-17, 34-34, 47-55, 53-69.

- NZPA