Basketball: Tall Blacks pipped by one point

8.25am

Turkey scraped past the Tall Blacks 70-69 in extra-time in their pre-Olympics warm-up men's basketball match in Istanbul today.

Both teams were level pegging throughout the match with the score tied 33-all at halftime and 60-all at fulltime.

New Zealand were hampered in the closing stages after captain Pero Cameron was fouled out in the fourth quarter, while power forward Sean Marks joined him on the bench in overtime after also receiving his fifth warning.

A New Zealand victory appeared likely after a Mark Dickel three-pointer gave them a five point advantage with a minute and 14 seconds remaining.

However Orlando Magic National Basketball Association player Hedo Turkoglu had the final say.

His three-pointer put Turkey back in the game and he bagged two points and a free throw after Dillon Boucher's foul to steal the win.

Turkoglu finished with a game high 22 points, while for New Zealand Kirk Penney had 21 and Dickel 10 points.

Result, after overtime -

New Zealand: 69 (K Penney 21, M Dickel 10)

Turkey: 70 (H Turkoglu 22) Fulltime: 60-60.

Halftime: 33-33.

- NZPA