Japan make it seven in a row as they sweep Iran in the Asian Qualifiers

Tehran (Iran) - Japan were red hot from the floor as they repeated over Iran, 97-89, to notch their seventh Asian Qualifiers victory.

The win pushed Japan within a whisker of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 qualification and delayed Iran's own entry into the biggest and brightest tournament of international basketball.

Japan dictated the tempo from wire-to-wire, leading 35-27 after a high scoring first quarter and sustaining the momentum for most of the match. Iran unfurled a furious endgame rally to trim an 18-point deficit to just 6, but it was too little too late. Yuki Togashi's free throws in the dying seconds pegged the final count and prevented Iran's outright qualification for the World Cup.

Makoto Hiejima shone brightest for Japan with 24 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 9-of-13 field goal shooting, while Nick Fazekas added 26 points and 8 boards. Veteran big man Joji Takeuchi also stepped up, hitting a couple of triples en route to 17 points.

On the other end, the home team was paced by Mohammad Jamshidi's 33 points, but he had little support as Sajjad Mashayekhi was the only other Iranian player who broke into double-figures with 13 points.

Japan next face Qatar in Doha and aim for their eighth win in a row on 24 February, while Iran will end their Asian Qualifiers campaign against Australia on the same date.

FIBA