Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images
Lebanon Gerard Hadidian tries to drive in against the Tall Blacks in Jakarta.
Lebanon 86 (Wael Arakji 25, Hayk Gyokchyan 19, Jonathan Arledge 18) New Zealand 72 (Takiula Fahrensohn 21). Q1 17-22, Q2 22-14, Q3 18-17, Q4 29-19.
Lebanon gave the youthful Tall Blacks a strict reality check in their last Asian Cup match in Jakarta.
Driving high after India 100-47 hammering on Wednesdaythe Tall Blacks were defeated 86-72 (NZT) on Saturday morning.
The Kiwis, who had led 22-17 after the first quarter, paid the price for a mediocre last quarter, outperforming them by 10 points.
Takiula Fahrensohn scored a team-high 21 points for the Tall Blacks, tapping four of his six attempts from outside the arc and shooting seven of 11 from the field.
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However, Kruz Perrott-Hunt (10 points) was the only other Kiwi to score double figures against a physical Lebanon team.
Nevertheless, the Tall Blacks were in contact for most of the game, trailing 39-36 at halftime and 57-53 with a quarter to play.
But led by Wael Arakji, who brought in a game-high 25 points, Lebanon exploded for 29 points in the final quarter to drive the Tall Blacks away.
The 1-1 Kiwis, now second in Group D behind unbeaten Lebanon (2-0), will face the Philippines (1-1) in their last group match (NZT) on Monday.