The Yulon Luxgens celebrated New Year with a convincing 91-70 win over Bank of Taiwan at the Hsinchuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City yesterday to ascend to fourth spot in the standings.
Lu Cheng-ju and Hu Kai-hsiang, who scored 20 points apiece in the much-needed victory, led an all-local lineup for the Automakers after import player Aaron Pettway departed, with his replacement, Derrick Caracter, yet to arrive in Taiwan.
Yulon had lost six straight after opening the season with four consecutive victories, before settling for a 1-2 record in their past three games.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
Nine quick points in the opening quarter by Hu helped the Luxgens take a 22-14 lead against the Bankers, but the Financial Wizards answered in the second quarter, with hired gun Rod Benson and Player of the Week winner Chen Hsuan-hsiang teaming up for 14-5 run to claim a brief lead, before falling behind and going into halftime trailing 40-33.
The Luxgens kept the cushion at about 10 points in the third quarter, despite a comeback attempt by Benson and Chen for the Bankers, before an 8-1 run in the fourth saw them pull away for the convincing victory.
Four different players scored in double digits for the Automakers compared with the Bankers’ three, with Benson leading all scorers on 25 points.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
KINMEN 65, DACIN 55
A 7-0 run by Kinmen Kaoliang with under three minutes to play boosted their slim lead to a more comfortable eight as they held off the Dacin Tigers for their fifth win of the season in New Taipei City last night.
Bryan Davis had another monstrous day at the office with 23 points and as many rebounds to cool the Cats, who had won two of their past three going into the game.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chen Hsuan-hsiang was named the Player of the Week earlier this week for his outstanding effort in the Bankers’ tough three-game schedule last weekend that featured a tremendous come-from-behind win over Taiwan Beer.
The shooter out of New Taipei City’s Fu Jen Catholic University, who is a regular member of the national squad, converted nearly half of his three-point attempts (11 of 23) during the Financial Wizards’ weekend to up his scoring average to 21.3 points over the three games.
“[Winning Player of the Week] came as a total surprise,” Chen said earlier this week upon learning of his selection for the weekly award.
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