China suffer 99-86 defeat against New Zealand at FIBA U19 World Cup

China lost to New Zealand 99-86 in the knockout phase of the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, and failed to advance to the last eight. That means the PRC will now try to return to the win column in the 9th-to-16th-place consolation games.

China lost all three of their group stage contests to finish fourth in Group B, and faced off against Group A winners New Zealand in the round of 16. At the start of the game, China took a 6-0 lead through a series of defensive counterattacks. But as New Zealand increased their defensive intensity, China only managed to add two more points over a span of seven minutes.

Throughout the first quarter, the Chinese side only recorded two assists, while Zhang Luyuan sank the team's only two-pointer in the period, as they fell behind 24-13.

During the second quarter, the point difference between the two teams moved as high as 20 points. And in the final period, China missed several chances to cut further into the margin, en route to eventually succumbing by a margin of 13 points.