Boomers Answer Iran Challenge for Big Win in Bendigo

The Australian Boomers were certainly pushed by Iran in Bendigo on Monday night, but it was again the offensive firepower of DJ Vasiljevic and defensive menace of Luke Travers that lifted them to the 98-68 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier victory.

Red Energy Arena in Bendigo played host to the World Cup qualifying match up and after the support the city has been giving the Bendigo Braves in the NBL1 South, they turned out in droves again to watch the Boomers attempt to keep their unbeaten run rolling.

The Boomers went on to outscore Iran 48-18 from the moment they trailed in the third quarter to score the emphatic victory to improve to a perfect 8-0 record in this FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifying stage.

Nick Kay added 20 points and seven rebounds, Rhys Vague 10 points and seven boards, Sam Froling nine points and eight rebounds, Alex Mudronja seven points and three boards, Alex Toohey seven points, Mitch McCarron six points and three rebounds, and Angus Brandt six points and three boards.

It took more than a minute for Australia to open their account but their first points came from beyond the arc by Sam Froling but Iran had come to play on the back of beating Japan back on Thursday night.

The Boomers worked their way on top and a three ball from Mitch McCarron put them up 10-4 before Alex Mudronja entered the action and hit a long bomb from the corner to keep the hosts up 17-12.

The Boomers couldn’t shake off Iran, though, even though Nick Kay hit another three-pointer early in the third quarter to stretch the lead back out to 12. Kay then nailed another to make it a 15-point lead and a dunk from Froling made it 17, but still Iran weren’t deterred.

The Boomers managed to lead 65-58 heading into the fourth but they then blew the game wide open with the first nine points of the last term in less than two minutes.

After trailing 52-50, the Boomers ended up outscoring Iran 48 points to 18 the rest of the way to end up winning by 30 and remain unbeaten this Asian Qualifying campaign.

FIBA WORLD CUP – ASIAN QUALIFIERS
SECOND ROUND, GROUP F

AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS 98 (Vasiljevic 23, Kay 20, Vague 10)

IRAN 68 (Jamshidi 17, Mashayekhi 11, Monji 10) 

BOX SCORE