Huge Ili performance lifts Tall Blacks over Croatia

Melbourne United star Shea Ili has put together a huge performance in Greece overnight as the New Zealand Tall Blacks upset Croatia in their FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament matchup.

Trailing for over 27 minutes of the game, the Tall Blacks kept themselves within striking distance against a team featuring former and present NBA stars such as Ivica Zubac, Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja.

Trailing 86-79 with less than three minutes remaining, New Zealand went on an 11-0 run to close the game, with Ili coming up with two decisive layups down the stretch.First, the dynamic guard sliced through Zubac and Saric for an acrobatic finish to tie the game at 86-86 before coming back the next possession and doing the same to push the Tall Blacks into a winning position.

Ultimately coming away with a 90-86 victory, Ili was named Player of the Game, finishing with 18 points, four assists and two rebounds.

Fellow United guard Flynn Cameron played 12 minutes, scoring two points.

Ili and Cameron will next face Luka Doncic and Slovenia on Thursday morning at 12:30am. A win, or a loss by 9 points or less, will see the Tall Blacks advance into the knockout stage of the tournament.