Korea rally to frustrate Lebanon
Lebanon led by as many as 11 points, but Korea rallied in the second half to prevail, 85-71, in Group F action from the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
CHANGSHA-HUNAN (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - Lebanon led by as many as 11 points, but Korea rallied in the second half to prevail, 85-71, in Group F action from the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
Lebanon had a strong start in this one, leading after one quarter, 23-13, and seemingly well in control at halftime, 43-32, but they ran into a different Korean team in the latter two periods. Korea outscored Lebanon, 49-25, in the second half to turn the tables on the Cedars and notch their third win in four matches.
Seasoned playmaker Yang Dong-Geun was the spearhead of Korea’s fightback in the third quarter, getting steals, easy lay-ups, and setting his teammates up in their sweet spots. Big man Lee Jong-Hyun also had a good outing with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while three-point specialist Cho Sung-Min tickled the twine for three triples and 15 points.
Naturalized wingman Jay Youngblood scored 21 points on 8-of-14 field goal shooting to pace Lebanon, and he was backstopped by Amir Saoud, who came off the bench to hit 3 treys en route to scoring 14 points.
Turning Point: Lebanon were up, 56-47, with 3:50 to go in the third quarter, and it was at that point when Korea woke up from their stupor. Coach Kim Dong-Kwang’s wards finished the period with an 11-2 run that changed the complexion of the game for good.
Stats Don't Lie: Korea were stifled in the first half, but their vaunted fluid-and-fast offense was in full display in the final two quarters. Korea ended up with a total of 24 assists to just 12 for Lebanon, capitalizing on the Cedars’ numerous turnovers (17) for easy transition buckets.
Game Hero: Yang Dong-Geun was already leading the whole field in efficiency heading into this contest, and he proved again why he is such a high-caliber player. The 34-year-old recorded 18 points, 8 assists, 8 steals, and 6 rebounds in a scintillating showcase of skill.
The Bottom Line: In a group where every game has dire consequences, a win goes a long way in propping a team’s chances for moving forward. Korea now carry a 2-win, 1-loss slate, effectively putting one foot in the Quarter-Final door, while Lebanon drop to 1-win, 2-losses. The Cedars now need to win their last two games — a tall order considering they face China and Jordan — to have a good chance of moving on.
FIBA