KEY POINTS:
New Zealand recorded the first win of their whistle-stop tour of Europe this morning (NZ time), pipping hosts Croatia 79-77.
After going winless in three matches in Latvia last week and then losing 79-85 in the first World Cup tournament match against Finland on Monday, victory was a boost for the Tall Blacks.
Guard Kirk Penney, who produced a game-high 29 points, said it was the ideal result looking ahead to this month's Olympic qualifying series against Australia.
"To come back and pull of a performance like that moves us forward toward what we'll be trying to do against Australia," Penney said.
"It was a full house and came down to the dying seconds, which was good for us.
"It's an in-game experience which will hopefully come in handy against Aussie."
Penney agreed the Tall Blacks had yet to produce their best under the new coaching regime of Nenad Vucinic but felt they were improving at a healthy rate.
"We've had moments on this tour where we've played great.
"But we've had lapses, combinations haven't worked. For whatever reason it hasn't worked for us down the stretch," he said.
"It's a matter of putting it all together. We're getting to know what combinations work."
The Tall Blacks exploded from the start to lead by nine after the first quarter, keeping that advantage with a 50-41 halftime lead.
However, New Zealand's offence was nowhere near as effective in the second half against more committed opponents.
The lead extended out to 64-54 at three-quarter time but a Croatia team featuring four players with National Basketball Association experience came charging back over the final period.
New Zealand's final game of the tournament was to be against winless Great Britain tomorrow morning before they embark on 36 hours of travel to Australia via Frankfurt and Singapore.
They will have three days in Melbourne to prepare for the first of three Australian matches.
"There is going to be jetlag and some tired legs so we just have to cover all the bases and be as ready as we can," Penney said.
- NZPA
