The Akatsuki Five received a tough challenge from Qatar early but wound up posting a 85-47 victory in a FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier at Toyama City Gymnasium on Friday night.
The Japan men's national team (5-4) extended its winning streak in the preliminaries to five. The Akatsuki Five will face Kazakhstan at the same arena on Monday night.
Center Nick Fazekas scored a game high 19 points and three other players scored in double figures for Japan before an announced crowd of 4,161. Toyama native and forward Yudai Baba racked up 13 points to give a big spark to the hosts. Fazekas, a naturalized player, had three steals as well. Guards Makoto Hiejima and Daiki Tanaka contributed 12 points apiece.
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