THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Kirk Penny scored 22 points for New Zealand as the Tall Blacks defeated Canada’s national men’s basketball team 77-69 on Friday in the Jack Donohue International Classic at Ricoh Coliseum.
The game was a complete turnaround from Tuesday, when Canada humbled New Zealand 90-63.
“It was embarrassing,” said Canada’s coach Leo Rautins after the game. “Absolutely embarrassing. You can’t have people walk into your playground and get pushed around the way we did.
“We have to dig deep or else it’s going to be a very short summer.”
Rautins rested centre Samuel Dalembert, a member of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, and didn’t have Jesse Young (hamstring) at his disposal.
Rowan Barrett scored 18 points for Canada, which could not recover from a 12-point first-quarter deficit.
“I just want to see us get better every day,” Rautins said. “I want to see effort. We didn’t give the fans who came out anything.”
Canada wraps up the event Saturday against Lebanon at Ricoh Coliseum.
In order for Canada to claim a spot in the Beijing Olympics, it must grab one of three berths in the 12-team, last-chance Olympic qualifying tournament, which begins July 14 in Athens.
