▲ Paris Bass
Suwon KT secured their first win of the season by comprehensively defeating Changwon LG, who are widely regarded as strong championship contenders this season.
KT beat last season's regular league winners LG 97–72 in their regular league home game held at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena on October 6.
LG, who had routed defending champions Busan KCC 103–68 in the official opening game, suffered their first defeat of the season.
Meanwhile, KT, who lost 81–76 to Seoul Samsung in their opening match, claimed a valuable first victory at home.
The match was effectively decided early in the first half.
Opening fire with perimeter shots from Mun Jung-hyun and Jeon Seong-hyun in the first quarter, KT sank six three-pointers in the first quarter alone to take a 27–26 lead.
The gap widened significantly entering the second quarter.
While KT ace Paris Bass dominated inside and out with scoring and assists, LG suffered from an extreme field goal slump.
By the end of the first half, the score was 53–39, giving KT a 14-point lead.
▲ Carl Tamayo
In the first half, KT's two-point field goal percentage reached 55 percent, whereas LG's stayed at just 29 percent.
In the third quarter, LG attempted a chase by combining two perimeter shots from Jung In-duk and a three-pointer from Yang Hong-seok, but it was not enough.
KT maintained a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter at 69–59, as Tray Porter threw cold water on LG's momentum late in the quarter with a three-pointer and two free throws.
In the fourth quarter, consecutive three-pointers by Asian quarter player Miguel Alleanza Gutierrez completely tilted the scale of the game.
With 5 minutes and 44 seconds remaining in the game, KT went on an 11-point scoring run, including an outside shot by Gutierrez, to pull ahead 93–66 and secure a 27-point margin, effectively sealing the victory early.
KT was led to a comprehensive victory by Bass, who recorded back-to-back double-doubles with 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Mun Jung-hyun, who solidly protected the paint with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
For LG, Archie Goodwin put up a valiant effort with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Assem Maree added 10 points and 13 rebounds, but their efforts were overshadowed by the team's defeat.
(Photo courtesy of KBL, Yonhap News)
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