Corey Webster. Photo / File
Guard Corey Webster led the Tall Blacks with 16 points, as they ended their eight-game China tour with an 83-70 win over the local Liaoning club side at Zhongshan.
A pair of three-pointers from Webster late in the third quarter helped extract the Kiwis from their rivals' grasp, after they
had seen a 13-point lead dwindle to just two soon after halftime.
New Zealand jumped on their opponents early with 15 unanswered points on the way to a 21-13 first-quarter advantage.
Liaoning did a good job of limiting inside scoring opportunities in the second period and although the Tall Blacks slotted five three-pointers during that spell, the Chinese were able to cut the lead back to four points at the break and within a basket soon after.
A seven-point run gave them some breathing room and an 11-2 outburst down the stretch saw the margin extend out to 17 points, before coach Nenad Vucinic put his five rookies - Izayah Mauriohooho Le'afa, Brooke Ruscoe, Reuben Te Rangi, Jordan Ngatai and Jack Salt - on the floor to finish the contest and the tour.
