Basketball: Stunning win for Tall Blacks

Kirk Penney. File photo / Rotorua Daily Post

Kirk Penney racked up 42 points as New Zealand held on to topple Slovenia 104-103 after two periods of overtime in the opening game of the Adecco Cup tournament in Maribor this morning (NZT).

In a morale-boosting result as the Tall Blacks prepare for this month's basketball world championships in Turkey, they somehow won despite having four players foul out and allowing Slovenia to attempt a massive 45 free throws.

While Penney's statistics were outstanding - he produced 27 points after halftime in helping his team overcome an eight-point deficit - there was also smiles over the 15 points in 16 minutes to veteran forward Pero Cameron, who has had little court time over the past year due to injury.

The New Zealanders did well to stay in touch through the early stages when they fell deep into foul trouble. Abrasive forward Mika Vukona continued his running battle with the European referees and picked up two personal fouls within as many minutes to return to the bench for the rest of the period.

However, the Tall Blacks shooters found their radar early, with worldly pair Cameron and Penney keeping them within a 52-44 deficit at the halftime break against their sweet-shooting opponents.

A nine-point burst in a more stodgy third quarter brought New Zealand into contention although more fouls to Vukona and Thomas Abercrombie stalled momentum.

Jeremy Kench, Vukona and Cameron all fouled-out before Penney tied the match at 83-83 when shooting one-from-two free throw shots with a minute to play in regulation time.

New Zealand led for much of the first period of overtime but couldn't hold it, sending the game into a second extra stanza.

The Tall Blacks shot superbly throughout, converting 56 per cent of shots from the field and an excellent 15 of 33 from outside the three-point line.

The Tall Blacks' second match at the tournament is against Russia tomorrow morning (NZT).

Result: New Zealand 104 (Kirk Penney 42, Pero Cameron 15, Tom Abercrombie 11) Slovenia 103 (Bostjan Nachbar 29, Jaka Lakovic 16, Uros Slokar 12). Halftime: 44-52.

- NZPA