JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – New Zealand opened their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a statement, pulling away late to defeat Iraq 100-78 in a Group D showdown on Sunday at the King Abdullah Sports City.
Taylor Britt led the way with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in a steady all-around performance, while Carlin Davison came off the bench to deliver 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and highlight plays that fueled the Tall Blacks' dominant final frame.
What started as a physical, back-and-forth encounter turned into a fourth-quarter blowout, as New Zealand outscored Iraq 37-17 in the final period, ending the game with pace and precision while frustrating their opponents into rushed decisions and visible disarray.
New Zealand looked in control early, turning up the heat late in the first quarter with transition buckets and lockdown defense. Mojave King beat the buzzer with a long triple to hand the Tall Blacks a 24-16 lead after one.
The lead grew to double digits early in the second, 28-16, but Iraq responded with grit and rhythm. Abbas Alqarnawi and Thulfiqar Hammoodi caught fire from deep, and the Iraqis clawed back with a 9-2 run to close the half. Demario Mayfield’s triple with 30 seconds left gave Iraq a surprising 43-42 lead at halftime.
Alqarnawi would finish the game as Iraq’s top performer with 19 points on 5 three-pointers, while Mayfield and Hammoodi provided support, but the momentum wouldn’t last.
The third period remained close, with Iraq briefly up 48-44 before New Zealand mounted a quick 6-0 reply to retake the lead. Neither side pulled away, and the Kiwis entered the final quarter clinging to a 63-61 edge.
That’s when the game shifted.
Davison and Flynn Cameron injected energy off the bench, sparking a 10-2 run that gave New Zealand a 73-65 lead. From there, the Tall Blacks imposed their will — swarming on defense, running in transition and finding easy baskets off smart ball movement.
New Zealand reached the 90-point mark following a string of conversions from Davison and Ngatai, while Iraq’s offense sputtered. Coach Veselin Matic's squad struggled to find their rhythm, lost their defensive shape and showed signs of frustration as the margin ballooned.
"We're a bit dispointed with the way we started. We acknolwedge Iraq and their intensity, which gave us problems. We were half a step late, and our defense wasn't good enough," New Zealand coach Judd Flavell said post-game. "They had their way on the offenive end. Now, we just have to be much better than that. But our group in the 2nd half played better. We wanted to keep the pace high, and that rewarded us down the stretch."
With the win, New Zealand (1-0) now turn their attention to a tough Day 3 clash against the Philippines. Iraq (0-1) will try to regroup against Chinese Taipei for their next game.
FIBA