Turkey spills sweat and blood to defeat New Zealand in FIBA Basketball World Cup

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey's forward Ender Arslan (R) vies with New Zealand's players during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships group C match New Zealand vs Turkey at the Bizkaia Arena in Bilbao on Aug. 30. AFP Photo

Turkish national basketball team started the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in fussy style after beating New Zealand 76-73 in Group C game in the Spanish city of Bilbao on Aug. 30.
     
The “Tall Blacks” were the dominating side in the first half of the game, which saw the Oceanian side grasping a double-digit lead at the end of the second quarter: 38-28.
    
The third quarter witnessed a Turkish comeback which culminated in a 73-76 victory for the 2010 runners-up.
    
Turkish center Oğuz Savaş was the top scorer for his team with 16 points, while his teammate Emir Preldzic completed the game with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.   

In New Zealand, Corey Webster scored 22 points, while Rob Loe finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
    
Turkey will face the U.S. on Aug. 31. The defending champions trashed Finland 114-55 to start the defense of their crown from 2010. DeMarcus Cousins added nine points and 10 rebounds for the Americans. In the same group, Ukraine picked up their first ever win at a World Cup with a 72-62 victory against the Dominican Republic as Pooh Jeter tallied 16 points.

Elsewhere, hosts Spain scored 33 points from Pau Gasol and 15 points and 10 rebounds from Marc Gasol in a dominant 90-60 win over Iran in Group A in Granada. Group A also saw a mild surprise, as wild card recipients Brazil knocked off 2013 European champions France 65-63, as Marcelo Huertas paced the winners with 16 points, while Serbia breezed past Egypt 85-64. Greece had an easy win against Senegal 87-64 while Slovenia beat Australia 90-80.