Tall Blacks fall to Korea in game two

New Zealands, Everard Bartlett, tries to keep the ball from South Korea player, Jong Kyu Kim, during the basketball test match between the New Zealand Tall Blacks and South Korea played at the ASB Are

Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic expected an improved Korean side for the second test but he probably didn't expect them to be this good.

After being hammered 102-69 in game one in Wellington on Tuesday, the Koreans adjusted well and upset the Tall Blacks 76-75 in Tauranga last night.

Korea, who were outmuscled on Tuesday, were ready for New Zealand's physical approach as they brought better defence to the contest tonight and produced a much-improved shooting performance.

Wellington Saints guard Corey Webster was busy all night for the Tall Blacks as he collected 20 points and it was his three-pointer that saw New Zealand take a 40-38 lead to halftime.

The Koreans, led by 21 points from Tae-jong Moon, hung around though and kept things tight during the third quarter as the Tall Blacks led 60-59.

When the scores were locked up at 66-all with four minutes remaining in the contest the game was set for a tense finish but the Koreans finished stronger.

Tall Blacks shooting guard Kirk Penney hit a shot with only seconds left in what he thought was a game-tying three-pointer but he had a toe on the line and it was correctly ruled as a two as the home side were forced to swallow the loss.

The series moves to Auckland for game three in Auckland on Saturday.

South Korea 76

Tall Blacks 75