XI'AN, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China's national Olympic basketball team beat Nigeria 85-80 here on Tuesday in the opening match of the Belt and Road International Basketball Tournament.
The Chinese team consists of young players, including Shi Deshuai and Arslan, who have already caught the eye with impressive performances in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league.
Nigeria started well but Xu Mengjun's three-pointers helped China lead the first quarter 25-19. However, Nigeria began to press more in the second quarter, coming back strongly to lead 42-40 at the end of the first half.
The two sides traded blows in the second half, with the lead changing hands several times. In the final minutes, Xu rose to the occasion to hit two consecutive three-pointers. Arslan then added two free throws to seal the win for China.
Xu's overall performance was particularly impressive, scoring 23 points with six three-pointers. Shi also played well, shooting 19 points.
The Belt and Road International Basketball Tournament is a four-nation tournament held in Xi'an between July 24-26. This year China hosts Germany, Iran and Nigeria. Enditem
