(LEAD) Leaders of S. Korea, Tajikistan agree to forge comprehensive partnership

South Korea defeated Jordan 114-80 in a dominant quarterfinal matchup at the Asian Games men's basketball tournament held in Japan, advancing to the semifinals and inching closer to their first gold medal in a decade. Forward Lee Hyun-jung was the standout performer, scoring 28 points and grabbing nine rebounds while shooting 10-of-15 from the field, including six three-pointers.

The team, coached by Nikolajs Mazurs, secured four consecutive victories in Nagoya, having swept the preliminary stage with wins over Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Japan. In the upcoming semifinals, South Korea will face the victor of the Iran-Bahrain game, which takes place on Friday. South Korea last claimed the men's basketball gold in 2014, followed by a bronze in 2018 and an elimination in the quarterfinals in 2023.

The team controlled the pace from the outset, running a 10-0 run early and establishing a 28-point first-quarter lead. Jordan scored its first basket 3:34 into the game and struggled to find rhythm, relying on U.S.-born forward Perrin Buford for isolated scoring opportunities. South Korea maintained pressure in the second quarter, extending their lead to 37-11 after Yu Ki-sang's two free throws and continuing to stifle Jordan's offense.

Choi Jun-yong's early three-pointer at 5:05 contributed to an 84-44 South Korean lead at the half. While Jordan mounted a brief 11-3 rally in the final three minutes of the first half, South Korea retained a substantial 51-27 advantage heading into the second half. The third quarter saw another 14-5 run for South Korea, thanks to Lee Hyun-jung and Byeon Jun-hyeong's three-pointers.

Lee Hyun-jung once again proved clutch, draining deep three-pointers from beyond Stephen Curry's range, extending the team's lead to 84-44. South Korea put its bench to work in the final frame, surpassing the century mark in points for the second straight game. South Korea outrebounded Jordan 44-29 and had a 14-7 edge in offensive boards.