Rui Hachimura leads Japan with 24 points in FIBA World Cup Qualifying win

Gonzaga Bulldogs junior forward Rui Hachimura poured in 24 points as Japan easily overcame Kazakhstan in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers on Thursday morning. Japan will next play Iran on Monday, Sept. 17.

Hachimura was his dominant, athletic self in the matchup. He led both teams in points, and chipped in seven rebounds, while playing for 34 minutes. He also landed himself on the highlight reel, as expected.

Hachimura was joined by Gonzaga alum Ira Brown. Brown played at Gonzaga in 2007-09, and although he never garnered too many minutes whole here, he was well known for his beyond athletic dunking abilities. Brown finished the game with just nine points, but but a few of those points came as loud as possible.

Japan now sits one point out of the top three, and the game against Iran will be a big indicator of their ability to move forward in the qualifying rounds. It will also be the last game that will feature Hachimura before the start of the 2018-19 college basketball season.