China rally back to edge South Korea 76-73

(Xinhua) Updated: 2015-09-25 09:48

Zhou Qi of China, left, competes against South Korea in a group match during the 2015 FIBA Asia Champions for Men in Changsha city, Central China's Hubei province, September 24, 2015. [Photo/IC]

The second quarter also went in favor of South Korea. Yang and Cho kept making three pointers, and South Korea had once led by as many as 19 points. China changed the defensive system in the later half of the second quarter. South Korea was delayed on the offensive side, and China finished the quarter after a 10-2 spurt. However, South Korea was still holding a 44-33 advantage over the host team.

South Korea refused to allow China catch up. Cho did good penetration, awarding South Korea a 60-42 lead, but China's big men started to dominate the game, resulting a 9-0 run to cut the gap to nine points by the end of the period.

"We meet some difficulties in the first quarter," said Zhou, "but our coach tried very hard to cheer us up in the half-time break, and we get rejuvenated in the second half."

The final quarter became a show of the 15-time Asian Champion. South Korea got four straight points to begin the quarter, but China outscored their opponent 25-7 afterwards.

"China has big advantage over us, and they did a very good job in the fourth quarter," said South Korean head coach Kim Dong Kwang.

Yang got a game-high 24 points for South Korea. Cho and Lee Seounghyun added 14 and 12 points respectively.

It was the second straight victory for China, who will face Jordan in the final Group C game on Friday.