MANILA (Philippines) - Australia continued their relentless march through the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers with a commanding 123-64 victory over Syria, but this was more than another routine win for the Boomers. In a night overflowing with offensive milestones, Elijah Pepper stole the spotlight by delivering the highest-scoring performance ever by an Australian player in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Pepper makes Boomers history
Pepper was simply unstoppable, pouring in 32 points to eclipse the previous high by an Australian player in the Qualifiers of 31 points, set by Todd Blanchfield against Kazakhstan in a 98-53 victory on February 26, 2023.
The performance is particularly notable given how quickly Pepper has established himself as an offensive weapon in the Boomers setup. He had already tied for the third-highest Australian scoring performance in Qualifiers history earlier this campaign, when he scored 28 points against the Philippines on March 1, 2026.
Now, he owns the outright record.
Pepper's scoring barrage was fueled by an extraordinary shooting display from deep, as he knocked down eight three-pointers. That total is tied for the second-most made threes in a single game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, underlining just how devastating he was from the perimeter.
Most three-pointers made in a World Cup Qualifiers Game
Rank | Date | Team | Against | Player | 3PM |
1 | 11/28/2025 | Korea | China | Hyunjung Lee | 9 |
2 | 8/28/2026 | Australia | Syria | Elijah Pepper | 8 |
= | 2/27/2026 | Portugal | Romania | Diogo Brito | 8 |
= | 2/26/2026 | Australia | Guam | Tanner Krebs | 8 |
= | 11/30/2025 | Jordan | Syria | Jalen Cole Harris | 8 |
= | 8/29/2022 | USA | Colombia | John Jenkins | 8 |
= | 7/4/2022 | Canada | Virgin Islands | Kassius Robertson | 8 |
= | 7/3/2022 | Poland | Germany | A.J. Slaughter | 8 |
= | 9/14/2018 | Italy | Poland | Amedeo Della Valle | 8 |
= | 7/1/2018 | Hong Kong | Korea | Ki Lee | 8 |
= | 7/1/2018 | Lebanon | Syria | Amir Saoud | 8 |
= | 2/22/2018 | Japan | Chinese Taipei | Naoto Tsuji | 8 |
Boomers run riot on offense
Pepper's individual explosion was part of an even bigger offensive showcase from Australia. The Boomers' 123 points rank as the fourth-highest single-game scoring total in FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers history. Only New Zealand's 133 and 129-point efforts, along with Australia's own 124-point performance against Guam earlier in these Qualifiers, stand above it.
Most points scored in a World Cup Qualifiers game
Rank | Date | Team | Against | PTS |
1 | 11/26/2017 | New Zealand | Hong Kong | 133 |
2 | 7/6/2026 | New Zealand | Guam | 129 |
3 | 7/3/2026 | Australia | Guam | 124 |
= | 6/28/2018 | New Zealand | Hong Kong | 124 |
5 | 8/28/2026 | Australia | Syria | 123 |
Australia's offensive efficiency was complemented by relentless pressure at the other end. The Boomers forced Syria into 27 turnovers, tying the single-game high for turnovers forced in the Asian Qualifiers.
That combination of creating extra possessions and converting them into points helped Australia turn what could have been a straightforward victory into an emphatic rout.
And perhaps most ominously for the rest of the Asian Qualifiers, there appears to be no sign of the Boomers slowing down.
FIBA