Basketball: Australia secure Oceania series in stunning fashion

Australia will take the top Oceania zone seeding into next year's world basketball championship after beating New Zealand 82-71 in a thrilling second test of the Oceania series here today.

New Zealand entered the match at Manukau Events Centre wounded after Wednesday's 69-82 loss in the first test and needing a win to keep alive their chances of securing the Oceania zone's top seeding.

While the scoreline suggested a comfortable victory for the Boomers, they had to withstand a late, pulsating charge from New Zealand.

The tension was evident with both sides entering into some argy bargy as New Zealand, who failed to impose themselves physically in the first test, were much more robust today.

Coach Tab Baldwin conducted a running sideline battle with the referees throughout the match as the New Zealanders were heavily fouled.

But it was the Tall Blacks' own blackouts in the second and third quarters which saw them slip well off the pace, as Australia scored at will while New Zealand's shooters suffered stage fright.

New Zealand's close-range shooting abandoned them, and at one stage they went scoreless for almost eight minutes in the second quarter.

Australia led 34-29 at halftime and produced a 13-point scoring spree in the following quarter.

New Zealand rallied late in the final quarter to trail 55-60 as both sides went point-for-point to set up a tense final three minutes.

A Dillon Boucher lay-up pulled the Tall Blacks to 65-66, and Aaron Olson's three-pointer with two minutes 50 seconds on the clock had them ahead 68-67.

But more foul trouble for the home side saw the Boomers stretch ahead and, with one minute remaining, Australia's scrambling defence held firm to seal victory.

The third and final test is in Dunedin tomorrow.

Baldwin praised Australia and said their composure in the closing stages proved the difference.

"They made their free-throws and our guys were a spent force and could not fight back. But I have nothing negative to say to say about my guys. They were always on the edge throughout the game.

"This (Australia) is a basketball nation in the world's top 10; they're not there because they're chicken feed."

Australian coach Brian Goorjian was quick to heap praise on the Tall Blacks.

"Full credit to them. I don't think the score was indicative of the game.

"I don't think New Zealand gets the credit they deserve. Coming to play here is just as tough as playing Lithuania."

Goorjian said he expected New Zealand to play a physical match, and complimented his star players, Glen Saville and CJ Bruton, who stayed composed to post the vital points in the dying minutes.

"We played down the stretch very well."

- NZPA