Tall Blacks 79
Lithuania 92
New Zealand has suffered a first-up loss at the World Basketball Championships in Turkey, going down to Lithuania 92-79.
The Tall Blacks started well, trailing 25-24 after the first quarter, but a second quarter slump saw them down 50-34 at half time.
That left the Tall Blacks a mountain to climb, and while they pulled back three points in the third quarter the task proved too tough.
Kirk Penney had a game high 37 points and Tom Abercrombie added 11.
The Tall Blacks'; next match is against Spain tomorrow morning.
The New Zealand women's team kicked off its World Championship campaign with a 77-74 win over Japan in Sapporo.
- NEWSTALK ZB
