Nigeria’s senior basketball team, D’Tigers, today lost their fifth game of the ongoing FIBA Stankovic Cup against eventual winners, the Emerging Boomers of Australia, in Lanzhou, China.
Australia celebrated their fifth straight win at the tournament to emerge winners. They knocked down Nigeria 76-61 to stay perfect.
Cameron Bairstow (206-F-90) finished with 12 points to lead the winners. Cody Ellis (203-F-90) nailed 11 points, while Igor Hadziomerovic (193-G-92) delivered 9 points for Australia.
Nigeria fell at 1-4 record after the defeat. Stan Okoye (198-F-91, agency: Interperformances) answered with 15 points for Nigeria. Richard Oruche (193-SG-87, college: Ill.-Springfield) had 12 points in the loss.
Australia secured a 21-15 lead after ten minutes of action. The Emerging Boomers maintained the lead throughout the second frame.
Australia accounted for a 37-30 halftime advantage. The Aussies left Nigeria far behind in the third term.
The Emerging Boomers ignited a 25-15 surge to build a comfortable 17-point cushion heading into the fourth period. Nigeria slowed their opponents down in the final term but it was too little too late to save the game.
