A hot-shooting 24-point, six-assist game from Makoto Hiejima pushed Japan past Iran and to the brink of World Cup qualification on Thursday.
Hiejima came up big in the 97-89 victory in Tehran, with Japan's naturalized center Nick Fazekas continuing his fine play since his return to the national team, adding 26 points and eight rebounds as the Akatsuki Five reeled off its seventh straight win.
"First of all, I am very happy with the victory today but I am not fully satisfied because we are yet to have confirmed our place at the World Cup," Japan's Argentine head coach Julio Lamas said, according to the Japan Basketball Association.