NAGOYA, Japan — South Korea delivered a dominant statement at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, crushing Jordan 114–80 on Wednesday to book a place in the men’s basketball semifinals.
The victory keeps South Korea’s campaign for its first Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal in 12 years firmly alive, with the team now just two wins away from the title.
Korea Takes Control From the Opening Tip
South Korea wasted no time establishing its dominance, opening the quarterfinal with a 10–0 run and suffocating Jordan with aggressive defense.
Jordan did not score its first basket until more than three minutes into the game, while Korea raced to a 28–8 lead after the opening 10 minutes. The Korean defense recorded five steals in the first quarter alone.
The gap continued to grow in the second period. Korea eventually moved ahead by more than 30 points before taking a 51–27 advantage into halftime.
Jordan managed a late second-quarter surge, but it was not enough to change the direction of the game.
Lee Hyun-jung Leads Korea’s Offensive Explosion
Lee Hyun-jung was the standout performer.
The forward scored 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting, knocking down six 3-pointers from 10 attempts in less than 21 minutes on the floor. He also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Korea also received important contributions from its other perimeter players, while the team’s depth allowed head coach Nikolajs Mazurs to rotate his lineup heavily once the result was effectively settled.
Korea crossed the 100-point mark for the second consecutive game.
Dominance Wasn’t Just About Scoring
The final score tells only part of the story.
South Korea outrebounded Jordan 44–29, including a 14–7 advantage on the offensive glass. That extra possession advantage helped Korea maintain pressure throughout the game.
The early defensive pressure was equally important. Korea’s ability to force turnovers and prevent Jordan from establishing an offensive rhythm created the separation that ultimately turned the quarterfinal into a rout.
Choi Jun-yong Makes His Tournament Debut
The quarterfinal also marked the Asian Games debut of forward Choi Jun-yong, who arrived in Japan late Tuesday after pursuing a professional opportunity in the United States.
He immediately made an impact, connecting on a 3-pointer during the second quarter as Korea continued to extend its lead.
His arrival adds another option to a Korean roster that has already won four straight games in Nagoya.
One Step Closer to Gold
South Korea went undefeated in the preliminary phase, beating Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Japan to finish atop Group A.
The team is now heading into the semifinals scheduled for September 18.
Korea will face the winner of the Iran-Bahrain quarterfinal. The other semifinal bracket features the winners of the remaining quarterfinal matchups.
Chasing a 12-Year Wait
South Korea’s last men’s basketball gold came at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
The team won bronze in 2018 and was eliminated in the quarterfinals at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. The latest victory therefore represents a significant step forward in its current campaign.
But the job is not finished.
With the semifinal now ahead, South Korea must win again to reach the gold-medal game and keep its bid for an Asian Games championship alive.
After dismantling Jordan by 34 points, Korea has sent a clear message on the court. Now comes the test that could determine whether its 12-year wait for gold finally ends.
Leave a Reply