India Hoopsters Falter Against Japan at FIBA Asian Championship
India go down 65-83 to Japan in a preliminary round game. The Indian hoopsters, however, qualified for the second round.
Japan registered a 83-65 victory over India to claim the second place in Group A at the 2015 FIBA Asia basketball Championship here on Friday. Despite the loss India are in the second round, courtesy their solitary win against Malaysia. (India go down to Iran)
India had a fast start, scoring an 11-point early on and going to the second quarter up at 18-15. Japan then outscored India 16-7 in the first seven minutes of the second period and then never fell behind.
Takeuchi Joji led Japan with 22 points. The big man also grabbed 19 rebounds, shot 50 percent from the field, handed out two assists and blocked one shot. Hiejima Makoto added 19 and six assists.
Japan forced India to commit 15 errors, which led to 12 fastbreak points for Japan. Vishesh Bhriguvanshi led India's scoring with 24 points.
Japan entered the second round after finishing with a 2-1 win-loss record in Group A. Iran topped the group with a 3-0 record.