Basketball: Tall Blacks fall to Slovenia

Mika Vukona. Photo / Getty Images.

The Tall Blacks have suffered a second close defeat in two games, falling 73-68 to Slovenia this morning.

After a last-second loss to Croatia yesterday, the Tall Blacks backed up today after a long bus trip to face a Slovenian side, again pushing them close but failing to get over the line.

Corey Webster led all scorers for the third game running with 19 points, getting to the line smartly but having his first off shooting night of the tour, going 5/18 from the field.

Isaac Fotu had 13 points, while the only other man in double digits was Reuben Te Rangi who had 10 in just 18 minutes - the Tall Blacks shooting an unsavoury 35% from the field.

Slovenia were much more efficient inside, resulting in them going at a 45% clip, while both teams grabbed 34 rebounds apiece, Mika Vukona having a game-high eight, including five offensive.

Slovenia did not have the use of brothers and current NBA players Goran and Zoran Dragic, but big men Jure Balazic (15 points and five rebounds) and Alen Omic (10 points and six rebounds) proved to hard to stop for the undersized Tall Blacks.

The Tall Blacks led 38-33 at the half and 52-49 after three quarters, but Slovenia finally broke through in the final period which they won 24-16 to earn the eventual five point buffer.

Paul Henare's side now head to China to participate in the Stankovic Cup alongside Venezuela, Mexico and a Chinese side.

Here are the stats for every Tall Black who suited up:

Shea Ili - Two points (1/2 shooting), one rebound, two turnovers and four fouls in 9 minutes

Reuben Te Rangi - 10 points (4/7 shooting), two rebounds and one steal in 18 minutes

Duane Bailey - On court for eight seconds

Everard Bartlett - Seven points (2/4 shooting), three rebounds, three assists in 11 minutes

Jarrod Kenny - 0 points (0/3 shooting), four rebounds, two assists and four fouls in 18 minutes

Mika Vukona - Six points (0/1 shooting, 6/8 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, three turnovers and four fouls in 27 minutes

Corey Webster - 19 points (5/18 shooting), three rebounds, one assist, one steal in 29 minutes

Tom Abercrombie - Eight points (3/10 shooting), five rebounds, one assist, two steals in 26 minutes

Tai Wynyard - 0 points (0/0 shooting), two fouls and one turnover in 11 minutes

Isaac Fotu - 13 points (5/12 shooting), three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 26 minutes

Dion Prewster - 0 points (0/0 shooting) and one assist in 8 minutes

Rob Loe - Three points (1/3 shooting), one rebound, one steal and four fouls in 15 minutes