Flynn Cameron broke a New Zealand scoring record at the Asia Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Tall Blacks have secured a quarter-final berth at the Asia Cup with their third win of the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
New Zealand beat Chinese Taipei 118-78 at King Abdullah Sports City to claim top place in Group D and move on to the knock-out stages.
Flynn Cameron's 28 points, including two three-pointers, was the most ever scored by a New Zealander in a FIBA Asia Cup game and he also pulled down nine rebounds and had eight assists.
Cameron was assisted by Mojave King 22 points, including four three-pointers, and he also made eight rebounds and four assists.
Ben Gold and Taylor Britt both scored 14 points.
Every player who took the court for New Zealand got on the scoresheet.
In a chaotic first quarter that saw seven lead changes, it was the Tall Blacks who would head into the break with a one-point lead, 19-18.
They extended their lead to 49-35 at half-time and did not look back.
Chinese Taipei's Long-Mao Hu scored the first points of the game with a three-pointer but New Zealand's defensive intensity started to suffocate the Chinese Taipei offence and they could not keep pace with the New Zealander's scoring as the game progressed.
The Hinton Brothers, Robert and Adam, combined for 40 points for Chinese Taipei to lead their scoring effort.
The Tall Blacks have a four-day break until their quarter-final match-up and they will be watching to see who they will play in the final eight.
New Zealand finished the 2022 Asia Cup in third.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
