HIROSHIMA, Japan - Eduardo Mingas’ 27 points ensured the African champions a berth in the round of 16.
The 6-foot-7 Mingas, who averaged 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins over Panama and Japan, made his first nine shots from the field and had 20 points and six rebounds as Angola (3-0) took a 49-32 halftime lead.
Angola, which finished 11th in the 2002 worlds, disrupted New Zealand (0-3) on defense with active hands and moved the ball crisply on offense in leading by as many as 20 points, 49-29, in the opening half.
Joaquim Gomes, who played for Valparaiso from 2000-04, had 20 points for Angola, which has opening-round games remaining against Spain and Germany. The top four of each six-team group advance to the single-elimination round.
Pero Cameron had 17 points for New Zealand, which was again without starting point guard Mark Dickel. Dickel, who played at UNLV from 1996-2000, was suspended 10 days by FIBA after a positive drug test last month. The results for the positive cannabis test were revealed Aug. 11.
He will be eligible to return for the final pool games against Japan and Panama, but New Zealand, which finished fourth in 2002, will need those wins as well as help from other results to advance.
New Zealand got within 12 points twice, the last time at 69-57 with the opening basket of the fourth quarter, but Angola went on a 7-0 run with Gomes scoring the last four points on a reverse dunk and offensive rebound.