WELLINGTON (2015 FIBA Oceania Championship) - He's a much-maligned Boomer when it comes to the Australian basketball public, but David Andersen keeps on keeping on for his national team.

In Game 1 of the FIBA Oceania Championship, Andersen's 17 points were a quiet game-winner, the 2.12m veteran hitting timely buckets to show 15,000 home fans exactly what he's made of.

Dave's had an incredible career, not many people in Australia know what he's done overseas. - Newley

"I've been over there nine years now and he's always been known as one of the best big men in Europe. When we put him in a position where he can do his thing he's almost unstoppable with his fade-away," teammate Brad Newley said.

"He gets a little bit of curry from the fans, but I think he showed in his home town what he can do and I'm pretty proud for him."

Saturday's clash was a dour, physical affair, and it took some nerves of steel for Australia to see off the Tall Blacks, who were within three points with 150 seconds to play after an impressive defensive performance.

"There were times when our rhythm got disrupted a little bit, and it will be good to make some adjustments going into Game 2, but we found a way by just being patient and grinding it out," Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis said, pleased to have Andersen and Co in his side.

"It's one of the beauties of having the experience we've got in the group, mixed with youth, it was a big occasion at Rod Laver, 15,000 people… It was a big moment, so to have players who have played on the big stage many times before holds you in good stead."

The big-moment player for New Zealand was Corey Webster, and Lemanis believes he could have done even more damage if the Boomers hadn't kept the Kiwis to just six offensive boards. 

"They are a phenomenal offensive rebounding team, [Isaac] Fotu and Mika [Vukona] crash the boards as well as anybody I've seen in international basketball," Lemanis said.

"To have them shoot the ball at the percentage they shot it at and only get six offensive rebounds is testament to the effort we put into defensive rebounding.

"It's going to be a war, we have to prepared to be committed to that in New Zealand, if we give them second shots it’s going to make it tough for us."

And that means plenty of rotations to keep fresh bodies on Vukona and Fotu to ensure the trademark Kiwi hustle doesn't steal a 13-point win and the lone Oceania spot at the Rio Olympics. 

"I think our depth holds us in good stead in this particular series and I think that showed out," Lemanis said.

"Having a group where you're just comfortable subbing anybody at any stage, to keep a certain momentum and pace and intensity in the game, is a good place to be in as a coach."

FIBA