1
Dec
World Cup 2027
Will Hickey wins it, Australian fans missed it
The Boomers celebrate beating the Tall Blacks in New Zealand on Monday, December 1, 2025 in New Zealand. Photo: FIBA.com
Highlights
William “Davo” Hickey hits clutch three as Boomers steal dramatic qualifier win over Tall Blacks.
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- Game Day 1: Boomers hold off tough Kiwis in World Cup Qualifier
William "Davo" Hickey has done it again, hitting a three as the clock expired to give the Boomers a tough 79-77 win in their Group A Game 2 Qualifier against the New Zealand Tall Blacks.
How the play unfolded in real time was uncertain as ESPN lost its Australian broadcast with 2:35 to go after Angus Glover and Izayah Le'Afa got into it. They were both assessed technical fouls with the score 75-70 to New Zealand.
It meant Aussie fans missed Australia's comeback in the last two minutes that included a pair of Keanu Pinder, pair of Hickey and pair of Nick Kay free throws.
Hickey, just days after hitting a pull-up three to win Game 1 in Tasmania, banked the game winner from the right hand-wing.
New Zealand led by 10 with 8:30 to go but a 7-0 Australia run culminating in a Jaylin Galloway three ball forced the Tall Blacks into a time with 7:19 left.
The game was heading into the clutch time and the broadcast dropped out on Foxtel's ESPN. There are reports of the live stream on other platforms dropping out.
Key Details
- Round: First Round, Group A
- Result: Australia 79 def. New Zealand 77
- When: 1st December 2024
- Where: TSB Bank Arena, New Zealand
By the Numbers
- Keanu Pinder (Australia) starred with 21 points, five rebounds and one assist in 28 minutes.
- Sam Mennenga (New Zealand) scored 16 points, and had six rebounds in 15 minutes.
What Happened
Australia secured a dramatic two-point victory against New Zealand in a tightly contested Group A clash that went down to the wire. The Boomers showcased their depth with multiple players stepping up in crucial moments, while New Zealand fought valiantly on home soil before falling just short in the final moments.
Keanu Pinder was the catalyst for Australia's victory, delivering an outstanding 21-point performance on efficient 10-from-22 shooting from the field. His ability to score consistently throughout the contest proved vital as the game remained close from start to finish. Nick Kay provided excellent support with 20 points on 50% shooting from the field, including eight successful attempts from two-point range. The duo's combined 41 points formed the backbone of Australia's offensive effort.
For the hosts, Sam Mennenga was exceptional in limited minutes, scoring 16 points on an outstanding 6-from-10 shooting display that included 5-from-7 from inside the arc. Mojave King contributed 13 points and five assists across 30 minutes, orchestrating much of New Zealand's offense throughout the encounter. Their efforts kept the Tall Blacks within striking distance despite facing a talented Australian lineup.
Australia's superior shooting efficiency proved decisive in the narrow victory. The Boomers shot a solid 39% from the field compared to New Zealand's 41%, but Australia's dominance from the charity stripe was crucial - converting nine-of-10 free throws (90%) versus New Zealand's 11-from-15 (73%). Australia also managed to limit their turnovers to 14 compared to New Zealand's 22, demonstrating better ball control in the pressure moments.
The rebounding battle was won convincingly by New Zealand, who grabbed 51 boards to Australia's 42, with the hosts securing 21 offensive rebounds that created second-chance opportunities. However, Australia's defensive intensity in the key moments, recording seven blocks and 13 steals, helped neutralise New Zealand's size advantage and forced difficult shots when it mattered most.
GROUP A – Results
🇦🇺 Australia 84, 🇳🇿 New Zealand 79
🇬🇺 Guam 46, 🇵🇭 Philippines 87
GROUP B – Results
🇯🇵 Japan 90, 🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei 64
🇨🇳 China 76, 🇰🇷 Korea 80
GROUP C – Results
🇮🇷 Iran 94, 🇮🇶 Iraq 68
🇯🇴 Jordan 74, 🇸🇾 Syria 59
🇮🇶 Iraq 71, 🇮🇷 Iran 86
🇸🇾 Syria 48, 🇯🇴 Jordan 100
GROUP D – Results
🇶🇦 Qatar 74, 🇱🇧 Lebanon 75
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 75, 🇮🇳 India 51
🇮🇳 India 57, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 81
🇱🇧 Lebanon 83, 🇶🇦 Qatar 86
Australia's Next World Cup Qualifiers
- Thu, Feb 26 2026 – 🇬🇺 Guam vs Australia 🇦🇺 — (Location: Guam)
- Sun, Mar 1 2026 – 🇵🇭 Philippines vs Australia 🇦🇺 — (Location: Philippines)
- Fri, Jul 3 2026 – 🇦🇺 Australia vs Guam 🇬🇺 — (Location: Australia)
- Mon, Jul 6 2026 – 🇦🇺 Australia vs Philippines 🇵🇭 — (Location: Australia)
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