September 9, 2011 - Game 2, New Zealand 64-81 Australia
Australia reached the 2012 Olympic Games on Friday
by beating New Zealand 64-81 behind 12 points from Lietuvos Rytas
scoring ace Brad Newley! The victory means that the Aussies swept the
series to claim the lone Oceania ticket to next summer’s games in
London. New Zealand will take part in the pre-Olympic qualifying
tourney to try and claim one of the final spots. It was a close game
for three quarters and the Kiwis led 56-53 early in the fourth quarter
after an Alex Pledger basket, but Australia simply dominated after
that. Read more here.
September 7, 2011 - Game 1, Australia 91-78 New Zealand
More evidence of Turkish Airlines Euroleague players
are making waves all around the world came on Wednesday from way Down
Under, where Australia won the first game of the FIBA Oceania 2011
men's championships with a 91-78 victory over New Zealand. A reigning
Euroleague champion, Aleks Maric of Panathinaikos, was one of the big
guns for Australia, with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Patty Mills led the
winners with 20 points, while Matt Nielsen of BC Khimki Moscow Region
added 10 points and a team-high 6 assists. Brad Newley of Lietuvos
Rytas had 8 rebounds and 6 points in a team-high 32 minutes on the
floor. For defending Oceania champion New Zealand, Kirk Penney led the
way with 30 points. Read more here.
