Japan defeated Bahrain 87-74 on Friday in the second round of Asian qualifying for next year's Basketball World Cup.
World No. 38 Japan, which has automatically qualified for the tournament as co-host, sank 10 three-pointers in the first half to lead 50-33 at the main break in the Bahraini capital of Manama.
Bahrain, ranked 86th, trimmed the deficit to 63-57 by the end of the third quarter, but Yuki Kawamura and Luke Evans's late offensive contributions made sure Tom Hovasse's Japan came away with the win.
Tenketsu Harimoto scored a team-high 22 points for Japan including 5-of-9 from three, while Kawamura added 20.
Mustafa Husein Ali Ahmad Rashed scored 30 points, sinking six three-pointers and all of his eight free throws for Bahrain. The home team matched Japan's 33 rebounds.
Japan will face 65th-ranked Kazakhstan in its next Group F qualifier in Astana on Monday. The 2023 FIBA World Cup will be co-hosted in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines from next August.
