Busan KCC kept its hopes alive for a fourth-place finish in the regular season.
KCC defeated Anyang Jungkwanjang 91-88 in a home game of the 2023-2024 Jungkwanjang Professional Basketball League regular season at Busan Sajik Gymnasium on Nov. 26.
Alize DeShawn Johnson led the way with a 36-point, 29-rebound performance, while Kwak Jung-hoon added 16 points, 카지노사이트 including four three-pointers.
With two games remaining, fifth-place KCC improved to 28-24, closing the gap on Seoul SK (30-22) to two games. However, SK, which also has two games in hand, needs one more win to claim the fourth spot. In the best-of-six playoffs (best-of-three), the fourth- and fifth-place teams will face each other, so KCC and SK’s brackets won’t change. However, the fourth-place team has an advantage as the top team can play the first and second games at home.
KCC, which is without Choi Jun-yong and Song Kyo-chang due to injuries and starting guard Heo Woong due to an ankle injury, was tied 44-44 at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter. Johnson scored nine points in the third quarter and Seo added six, and the team took a 69-63 lead into the final quarter.
Chung came out firing in the fourth quarter to keep the game close. With 6:08 left in regulation, the game remained close until Jung’s three-point play cut the deficit to 79-78.
It was KCC’s Kwak Jeong-hoon who broke the balance of the game. Kwak hit a three-pointer with just over three minutes left to make it 87-84, and Johnson added two free throws to extend the lead to five points. KCC responded with baskets from Park Ji-hoon and Landes Abando, but Johnson’s free throws made it 91-88. KCC tried to tie the game with a three-pointer by Park Ji-hoon with one second left in regulation, but the ball missed the rim.
In Daegu, home team Daegu Korea Gas Corporation defeated Ulsan Hyundai Mobis 82-78. Andrew Nicholson led the way with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Park Ji-hoon added 15 points. With the win, Hyundai Mobis clinched sixth place (25-27) and will face third-place Suwon KT (33-19) in the best-of-six playoffs.