The Otago Nuggets slumped to their fifth consecutive loss on Saturday but there were some positive signs, with five players getting into double figures.
The Nuggets were beaten 95-82 by the Taranaki Mountain Airs in New Plymouth.
American shooting guard Jack Leasure posted a game-high 27 points and centre Demarshay Johnson had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The scores were tied going into the final 10min but the Nuggets ran out of puff and were outscored 22-9 in the fourth quarter.
Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge was disappointed they faded with the game on the line but said his side showed some real improvement.
"I don't think tiredness is an excuse," he said.
"We just didn't hit a few shots down the stretch and, in that last quarter, Leasure started hitting shots he hadn't hit earlier. Riki Buckrell did a fantastic job on him and Sam [To'omata] played really well.
"And we had five guys in double figures, and when was the last time the Nuggets did that? So we are getting there. We're getting the [scoring] spread."
American import Tyler Amaya led the scoring for the visitors with 23 points and filled up the rest of the statistics sheet with seven rebounds, six assists and a steal.
Captain To'omata had his best night in the Nuggets singlet with 17 points, veteran shooting guard Matt Gillan posted 13 and Buckrell scored 10.
American centre Antoine Tisby scored 14 points and had five rebounds but by his standards had a poor game.
A hard match against the Waikato Pistons on Friday night took its toll on the 2.03m centre.
"I think the night before going up against Alex Pledger and Tony Ronaldson was tough for Antoine and he just got real tired," Arlidge saidTisby also got into foul trouble early in the fourth quarter, which left the Nuggets without a genuine centre for part of the crucial period.
The home side led 31-19 at the first break but the Nuggets rallied to win the next two periods 25-19 and 29-23.
With Tisby tiring, rebounding became an issue for the Nuggets.
They were out-rebounded 49-32 and their shooting from the free-throw line, where they landed 16 of their 25 attempts, was poor.
Otago's next match is against the same opponent, in Timaru on April 3.
