Forward Nikkhah Bahrami scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to help Iran overcome a 12-point deficit in a 71-65 victory over host Japan in their final first-round game in the fourth FIBA Asia Cup at Ota City General Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
Iran went undefeated (4-0) in Group B and will next face Uzbekistan (1-3), while Japan will take on China (3-1) in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Japan had a better first half both offensively and defensively, but uncanny Iran, though it is playing in this tournament without 218-cm NBA center Hamed Haddadi, came through in the second half as Bahrami had eight and six points in the last two quarters.