China loss to India | Fiba Asia 2014 Wuhan

Tournament hosts China continued their unpredictable run after dropping a shock result to underdog India, 65-58, in the group stage of the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China.

One day after handily defeating a heavily-favored Iran team, China’s team of youngsters showed their inexperience in this one, falling to an Indian team that lost its first assignment by over 20 points.

China showed plenty of promise early in the tournament after defeating Indonesia by 68 points, 105-37, and FIBA Asia Championships titlist Iran, 62-51, to take the Group A lead.

But they struggled from the opening tip, with India jumping out to a 24-11 lead after the first period.

The Chinese cut their deficit down to just two points, 33-31, at the half before taking the lead in the third.

But they sputtered again late in the final period as India closed the game with eight unanswered points in the last two minutes.

Amjyot Singh and Pratham Singh each scored 13 to lead India while forward Vishesh Bhriguvanshi had 10 points on top of notching team-highs of seven rebounds and seven assists.

China was led by 18-year-old Zhou Qi, who had 12 points and four rebounds but turned the ball over five times in the game.

Iran, meanwhile, tied China atop the Group A table after defeating Indonesia, 77-47.

The defending champions sat out starters Hamed Haddadi and Oshin Sahakian but had little trouble cruising past the hapless Southeast Asian squad.

Center Asghar Kardoust posted 18 points on 9-for-10 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds for Iran while Arsalan Kazemi saw his first minutes of action in the tournament, finishing with a double-double of 12 points and 13 boards.

Kazemi was the 54th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft but was left unsigned by the Philadelphia 76ers, who traded for his rights.

Iran dominated the second half, outscoring their foes 41-14 over the latter two periods.

China and Iran both have identical 2-1 records with Japan and India both at 1-1. Bringing up the rear is Indonesia, which is winless in two games.

In the lone Group B game, the Rajko Toroman-coached Jordan squad crushed debuting Singapore, 70-53, to tie Chinese Taipei at 1-1.

The game was tied at 15-all after the first period before Jordan pulled away in following periods.

Naturalized player Rashiem Wright led three other players in double figures with 14 points.

Ahmad Alhamarsheh had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Ahmad Al Dwairi posted 12 and nine while Mohammad Shaher Hussein added 11 markers for the Jordan cause.

Wong Wei Long was the lone bright spot for Singapore, scoring 33 big points and grabbing 10 boards but the rest of the starting lineup combined to shoot just 4-for-36 in the game.

--TV5