New Zealand 75 Great Britain 82
KEY POINTS:
New Zealand ended their men's basketball tour of Europe in bleak fashion with a 75-82 loss to Great Britain in Croatia this morning (NZ time).
In a disappointing final match before next week's Olympic qualifying series against Australia, the Tall Blacks were downed by a team ranked well below them.
Coming off a memorable 79-77 defeat of hosts Croatia on Tuesday, New Zealand were sluggish from the outset and conceded a 10-point advantage in the opening quarter.
They played catch-up for the remainder of the game, closing 30-35 by halftime but losing each of the last two quarters by a point each as previously winless Great Britain penetrated the Tall Blacks defence comfortably enough.
New Zealand closed to within two points inside the final minute but had already lost starting big men Pero Cameron and Craig Bradshaw to fouls by that stage.
Shooter Kirk Penney followed up his 29-point performance against the Croats with 26 more to lead the scoring effort but only Bradshaw (11) followed him into double figures.
The Tall Blacks lost all three of their matches in Latvia last week while they have managed just one win from three in Croatia.
Today's result will give the Tall Blacks plenty to ponder as they begin their long trek to Australia for the Oceania Championships, starting in Melbourne on Monday.
- NZPA
