Zou Yang (R) of China controls the ball during the basketball men's preliminary round group A match between China and Chinese Taipei at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Team China lost to Chinese Taipei 97-84 in its last Group A match during the men's basketball preliminaries at the Chengdu Universiade on Monday.

After suffering back-to-back defeats to Brazil and Lithuania in their previous games, both teams were stopped from the elimination stage prior to their head-to-head meeting.

On Monday evening, Chinese Taipei scored the opener with a layup from Lin Cheng, while center Yang Xihao responded for China with a strong play in the paint. After both sides had their tit-for-tat plays, China led first quarter by six points.

Team China started the second quarter with Zhao Baiqing hitting a jumper. Wang Lanqin made a steal for his fast break to widen the gap to 12 points. However, Chinese Taipei responded with a string of impressive "link-up" plays through guard Yu Ai-che, and managed to cut the deficit to two points by the end of the first half.

Coming back from the locker, Gao Jin-wei took control of the game as he constantly nailed down 3-pointers, helping Chinese Taipei rally to wrap up the third quarter with a 10-point lead.

In the fourth quarter, Wang made all three free throws, helped Team China find its rhythm. However, there was less time for an overturn.

Wang scored a team-high 16 points, together with 10 rebounds, and Yang added 14 points for China. Gao made a game-high 26 points for Chinese Taipei, and Tsai Chen-kang added 15.

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