Lee Hyun-jung Scores 28 as S. Korea Rout Jordan to Reach Asian Games Semifinals for First Time in 8 Years

The South Korean men's national basketball team has advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Games for the first time in eight years.

Led by head coach Nikolais Mazurs, the national team secured a 114-80 victory over Jordan in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, today (September 16), booking their ticket to the semifinals.

Having won the Asian Games men's basketball gold medals in 1970, 1982, 2002, and 2014, South Korea took the bronze at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. However, the team suffered a blow to its pride at the 2022 Hangzhou Games held in 2023, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals and finished in a dismal seventh place, their lowest ranking ever.

In the current tournament, South Korea topped Group A by defeating Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Japan in succession. By overcoming Jordan, the runners-up of the previous tournament, they have advanced to the semifinals after eight years and continue their pursuit of a medal.

The national team will face the winner of the Iran-Bahrain match, which takes place later this afternoon, in the semifinals on September 18.

Team Mazurs reached its full roster for the first time since the tournament began.

Forward Choi Jun-yong (KCC), who had been absent during the group stage due to his pursuit of advancing to the United States, joined the team the previous day, bringing all 12 players together.
 
With Choi Jun-yong starting on the bench, South Korea seized complete control from the very beginning.

Following the opening score by Mun Jung-hyun (kt), Lee Hyun-jung scored consecutive points with an outside shot and a layup to stretch the lead to 7-0. Lee Jeong-hyeon (Sono) then added three points from free throws, widening the gap to 10-0 just about three minutes into the game.

Outperforming Jordan overall in defensive and rebounding focus, and welcoming back Yeo Jun-seok (Seattle University)—who had been sidelined since the first group match due to a foot injury—South Korea finished the first quarter with a commanding 28-8 lead.

Early in the second quarter, an alley-oop dunk by Yeo Jun-seok following a pass from Lee Jeong-hyeon pushed the score to 33-9, and South Korea brought in Choi Jun-yong midway through the quarter to help him adjust.

Choi Jun-yong sank his first 3-point attempt with 5 minutes and 5 seconds left in the second quarter, making it 42-15.
 
After two back-to-back outside shots by Lee Jeong-hyeon widened the margin to 48-16, South Korea wrapped up the first half ahead 51-27.

Jordan managed to narrow the gap slightly in the middle of the third quarter with continuous scoring by U.S.-born naturalized player Dar Tucker, but South Korea did not allow an easy comeback as Lee Hyun-jung's shooting touch heated up.

With 1 minute and 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Lee Hyun-jung landed a long-range 3-pointer to make it 84-44, creating a massive 40-point difference.

Entering the fourth quarter ahead 85-51 after pouring in 34 points in the third quarter alone, South Korea overcame a twist when Choi Jun-yong was ejected after receiving a technical foul midway through, completing a massive victory scoring over 100 points for the third consecutive game.

Lee Hyun-jung exploded with 28 points, including six 3-pointers, along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists in just 20 minutes of play, while Yoo Ki-sang (LG) contributed 16 points and Lee Jeong-hyeon added 12 points and 6 assists.

Choi Jun-yong recorded 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes and 26 seconds of action, and Yeo Jun-seok finished with 9 points.

All 12 players listed on the roster scored for South Korea, vastly outperforming Jordan with 44 rebounds and 36 assists compared to Jordan's 29 rebounds and 18 assists.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.