Center Fumihiko Aono helped stake Japan to an eight-point lead in the first half en route to a 63-59 triumph over Jordan at the Asian Men's Basketball Championships on Wednesday.
Japan, which won its second straight match in Group D after a victory over the Philippines on Tuesday, outscored Jordan 35-27 in the first half and took control in the second half, mainly on the shooting of Satoru Furuta, to book a place among the top eight teams at the tournament.
Japan is one of 16 teams vying to gain a berth for the 2004 Athens Olympics by winning the tournament.