The Shanxi Loongs defeated the Fujian Sturgeons 122-117 in Taiyuan, north China’s Shanxi Province, on Tuesday in a game that witnessed a total of 60 fouls and 73 free throws.
Though Fujian are at the bottom in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and Shanxi rank second in the table, the visitors completely outperformed their opponents in offensive aggression in the first half. They led 20-5 in free throws only five minutes into the second quarter.
After a 14-0 run early in the quarter, Fujian were looking at a 17-point advantage, 44-27, that forced the home team to call a timeout. Though Shanxi replied with a 7-0 run thanks to the efforts of Hamidou Diallo and Ge Zhaobao, they still trailed 62-52 before the halftime break.
Shanxi learned from their opponents and attacked with more aggression in the second half. Brandon Goodwin and Zhang Ning led the team to outscore Fujian 12-2 in two minutes. They gained the lead and extended it to six points at 80-74 after Goodwin went to the rim for a layup, but then home players were called for four personal fouls within 73 seconds. Fujian took the opportunity to respond with a 6-0 run. Both sides kept getting to the free throw line in the final minutes of the third quarter before it finished with Fujian leading 91-88.
Zhang, who struggled to make shots from downtown in the first three quarters, suddenly found his rhythm from the outside and knocked down three triples in the fourth quarter. He scored 12 points for Shanxi who outscored Fujian 34-26. He was joined by Goodwin and Yuan Shuai who also made shots from behind the arc.
Though Joseph Young worked hard to keep the game alive for Fujian, including making key shots and committing quick fouls, the team’s poor rebounding on defense led to continuous offensive rebounds by Yuan in the final seconds and cost them the game.
In the other game on the night, the Guangzhou Loong Lions beat the Jiangsu Dragons 100-91 on the road to end their 11-game losing streak.