POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Mahdi Kamrani
Iran - Uzbekistan 82-61
Second win for Iran for top of Preliminary Group B after 2 days. Kuwait and Taiwan are on second and third place with 1-1, while Uzbekistan remains winless. With this win the defending champion booked a ticket for the next stage. Mahdi Kamrani (180-G-82, agency: Huss Sport Agency) this time was a key player in Iran collecting 23 points and 5 rebounds. MohammadSamad Nikkhah (199-G/F-83, agency: ACMT) scored 18 and Javad Davari added 12 pts. Hamed Ehadadi (218-C-85, agency: Agency No 10) stopped on 8 pts in this game. Vyacheslav Denisov (190-F-83) and Evgeniy Shatrov (192-G-86) combined 25 points in loss.
Iran was way better team today, except of the last quarter when question about the winner was already resolved. After 11-11, Iran completed 12-6 run to close the first period. Mahdi Kamrani continued strongly, but Uzbekistan also improved so the could not go to half time with more than plus 7, 40-33. However, beginning of third quarter was crucial. After few leveled minutes, Iran made 13-2 run taking 55-39 lead. Uzbekistan had no chance later as Iran jumped to plus 27 few times.
Tomorrow in Tianjin, Iran will meet Kuwait. Uzbekistan will take on Taiwan.
Iran: Mahdi Kamrani 23+5 boards, MohammadSamad Nikkhah 18, Javad Davari 12
Uzbekistan: Vyacheslav Denisov 13, Evgeniy Shatrov 12
