VANCOUVER, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China was in tough here on Friday night during the first of two friendly games against Canada at the Pacific Rim Basketball Classic.

The Chinese national men's team fell to a Canadian roster 97-62, marked with several National Basketball Association (NBA) players such as Dillon Brooks, Chris Boucher and Kelly Olynyk.

Canada, which is amid qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, also boasted youngster R.J. Barrett, who could be selected first overall in next year's NBA draft.

While outnumbered in the crowd by the home supporters, the Chinese team had ample support from the Chinese fans at Rogers Arena, the former home of the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies, who left for Memphis after the 2001 season.

The pair of exhibition games are being used as a tune-up amid the qualification rounds for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, which will take place in China.

As host, China automatically qualifies for the World Cup, which will see 32 teams compete in eight Chinese cities.

Here in Vancouver, China was led by Wu Qian who finished with a game-high 27 points. Canada, which led 21 points by half-time, got strong performances from Brooks and Chris Boucher, who finished the game with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

China's head coach Du Feng said he was impressed by how his young roster didn't quit after falling so far behind by the half.

"As a young team, I think [this] is good experience for us to play against the Canadian team," said Du, who was ejected from the game in the fourth quarter after storming the court following a flagrant foul by Canada's Anthony Bennett, who was also tossed for pushing a Chinese player.

Du said the current Canadian roster has a lot of NBA experience, which provided a good test against his squad of youngsters.

Chinese guard Wu Qian also mentioned his team's youth. "For us this is a young roster," he told reporters afterwards. "However, we think we really cherished the opportunity against the Canadian team."

Canada's head coach Jay Triano commended the Chinese side. "They move extremely well," he said. "They set great screens. They shoot the ball. You have to be very aware of where they are. They're a very good team that is a physical team [that] knows how to play."

Game 2 of the exhibition series goes Sunday in Victoria.