Iran defeated Japan 74-66 to take the bronze medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games men's basketball tournament here on Friday.

Hamed Afagh scored 27 points for Iran, who were beaten by Japan 57-56 in the preliminary round, and center Kardustpoustinsaraei Asghar got 13 pionts and seven rebounds.

Iran took early control and were never threatened by the Japanese, which were seeking for their first men's basketball medal in 28 years.

Iran, who lost to China 68-65 in Thursday's semifinals, built a game biggest lead 59-47 before Japan cut the gap 59-56 with a 9-0 run in the quarter.

Takumi Ishizaki scored 17 points for Japan, who never gave up but didn't close less than six pionts after Iran regained control later.

The 2.05-meter Takeuchi Kosuke added 13 points and nine rebounds, and former NBA player Tabuse Yuta and Ryota Sakurai contributed 11 respectively for Japan.

Iran, which outscored Japan 49 percent to 34, also got 10 points from Mahdi Kamrani and Hamed Sohrabnejad apiece.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2010)