The 2016 Annual Ko-Yon Basketball game ended as a tie between Korea University (KU) and Yonsei University (YU), whose teams both scored 71. The game was held on September 23, at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium.

 

The first quarter started off with YU’s Ahn Young Jun (’14, Yonsei, F) scoring a three point shoot. This goal was followed by many more offensive goals of other YU players including Park In Tae (’13, Yonsei, C), and Cheon Gi Beom (’13, Yonsei, G). Although the KU players showed many stabilized goals and goal attempts, including Kang Sang Jae’s (’13, Physical Education, F) three successive goals and free throw, and Park Jung Hyun’s (’16, Physical Education, C) goal, right after he was put into the court, KU was still behing. YU was outscoring KU, with Heo Hoon (’14, Yonsei, G), who received the roar of the crowd with a buzzer beater, contributing to many of YU’s points. The first quarter ende with YU scoring 22 and KU 16.

 

During the half quarter, YU was still in the lead with 47 points and KU 34. Undoubtedly, Heo was one of the strongest players of YU. With his steady shooting skills that both applied to short and long distances, unstoppable fast breaks, and faking abilities allowed him to overwhelm many of the defensive plays of KU.

 

KU players were strong in making stable attacks and goal attempts during the whole game; however, YU made strong rebound attacks with a mixture of various put back strategies and fast breaks. In the face of YU’s offensive moves, KU’s defense line seemed to be crumbling, as the quarter ended with KU scoring 34, and YU scoring 47.

 

Lee Jong Hyun (’13, Physical Education, C), Captain of the KU Basketball Team, was on court by the third quarter. This made the audience roar for Lee Jong Hyun was expected to be unable to be playing in this year’s Ko-Yon Game because of his injury. Lee, consistent with many expectations people have towards him, made both short and long distance shoots and put backs not long after his input.

 

Along with other goals of Jeong Hee Won and Kang Sang Jae, who were shown to be a great duo player where one would assist the other, KU was catching up. However, still YU was in the lead. Amidst the attacks of YU, several goals by Kim Nak Hyun (’14, Physical Education, G) and Park Jung Hyun were made successful. The game period for the third quarter was over as Park Jung Hyun made a breakthrough among the defensive lines of YU that heavily blocked his way; however his goal hit the ring and bounced out. The KU team scored 52, and YU team 62.

 

The most tensioning moment of the game was the fourth quarter. Kim Nak Hyun was close to scoring a goal by receiving the rebound ball of Kang Sang Jae’s attempted goal. However, Kim Nak Hyun was tackled by YU, and suffered from a minor leg injury. As a substitute, Jeon Hyeon Woo (’15, Physical Education, F) was called into the court and made an impressive shoot. At this moment of time, YU was still in a six point lead over KU. The score gap was closing with Choi Seong Mo (’13, Physical Education, G) wittily earning two free throws, one of which succeeded. Now KU was only behind YU by five points.

 

Lee Jong Hyun, with his tall height and skillful defensive and offensive moves was able to block out several attempted shoots of YU, and succeed layup goals with leisure. However, like a tug-of-war, as soon as KU was close to becoming a tie with YU, YU scored. With one minute 29 seconds left, Kim Nak Hyun made a stable shoot once more, assisted by Choi Seong Mo. Now the score gap was 2, with YU in the lead.

  

With 26.9 seconds left, Park Jung Hyun brought the score to a tie. Roars from the crowds of both KU and YU audiences were strong, each rooting for their teams. Time was running out and whichever team scored was to be the winner—this was definitely the most tensioning moment of the entire game. With just several seconds left Kim Nak Hyun’s last goal was close to succeeding, however it circled the ring and fell out. The buzzer calling out the end of the game rang, and thus the match ended in a tie.

 

The teamwork that the KU team showed was definitely the most notable feature during the entire game. Throughout the play, the smooth communication and cooperation allowed the players to assist each other, which eventually led to KU’s recovery. As the KU players, who all enthusiastically played in the game, left the court the crowd of the KU audience roared.