Professional basketball team Changwon LG swept Wonju DB to pull away from the pack.
LG defeated DB 91-70, with Asem Marei (17 points) dominating under the basket and Lee Jae-do (16 points) and other players performing evenly, in the 2023-2024 regular season at Wonju Gymnasium on Feb. 2.
Second-place LG improved to 11-5 and closed to within 2.5 games of leader DB (14-3).
LG took a 44-39 lead in the second quarter after two 3-pointers from Yang Hong-seok (15 points) and scoring spurts from Lee Kwan-hee and Yoo Yoo-sang.
DB started to fight back in the third quarter with a fast break basket by Kim Jong-kyu, but LG couldn’t pull away and went into the fourth quarter with a 65-60 lead.
While DB rested Dedrick Lawson (12 points), LG started to pull away with a basket by Marei and a three-pointer by Jung Hee-jae (13 points).
LG got a taste of victory when Yang Hong-seok hit a three-pointer with 5:13 left in the fourth quarter to make it 81-67.
Marei also grabbed 24 rebounds on the night, marking his third straight game with 20 or more rebounds.
He joins Nigel Dixon (formerly of Busan KTF) and Terrence Rather (formerly of Seoul Samsung) as the only players in the KBL to grab 20 or more rebounds in three consecutive games.
Suwon KT extended its winning streak to five games with a 99-81 victory over Daegu KOGAS on the road at Daegu Gymnasium.
KT, which remained tied for second place (11-5) with LG, also closed the gap to the leading DB to 2.5 games.
KT dominated the game with 15 long-range shots, including five from Paris Bass (31 points) and three from Jung Sung-woo (10 points).
Busan KCC overcame a late charge by Seoul SK to win 74-72 at Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul.
KCC held a comfortable 62-47 lead after three quarters before SK, led by Jamil Warney and Jae-hyun Oh, pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Alize DeShawn Johnson (10 points) was the key to the victory.
Johnson made both free throws with 35 seconds left in the game to tie the game at 72-72.
With one second left in regulation, he also made two free throws off a foul by SK’s Ahn Young-joon to seal the thrilling win.
SK was led by Warney’s 23 points, but couldn’t get over the hump and suffered its third straight loss. 슬롯게이밍