Etugen University Defeats Yonsei University, Advances to Face NCCU in Semifinals

August 22 — In the third quarterfinal of the inaugural Asian University Basketball League (AUBL), Yonsei University faced Etugen University. After trailing by 11 points late in the first quarter, Etugen’s offensive trio of Tushig Elbeg, Barsbold Baatar-Erdene, and Usukhbayar Otgonbayar led a furious comeback that put them ahead by 12 midway through the fourth. Although Tushig was ejected after receiving two technical fouls, Etugen withstood a late Yonsei rally and held on for a 93–87 victory. Etugen University advances to the semifinals, where they will face National Chengchi University (NCCU).

Box Score Highlights

Yonsei University:

• Lee Ju Yeong – 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals (4 threes)
• Kim Seung Woo – 16 points, 5 assists (4 threes)
• Lee Yu Jin – 11 points
• Lee Hae Sol – 11 points (3 threes)

Etugen University:

• Tushig Elbeg – 28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 turnovers, 5 threes, ejected with 2 technical fouls
• Barsbold Baatar-Erdene – 30 points, 6 assists
• Usukhbayar Otgonbayar – 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals

Game Recap

Yonsei University went 2–0 to top Group C, while Etugen finished second in Group D at 1–1.

• First Quarter: Both teams started cold. Tushig Elbeg hit two threes, but Yonsei responded behind Ahn Sung Woo’s drives. After free throws from Barsbold Baatar-Erdene, Lee Ju Yeong and Lee Hae Sol buried back-to-back threes, sparking a 16–2 run that gave Yonsei an 11-point cushion. Etugen trimmed it slightly, but Yonsei led 27–18 after one.
• Second Quarter: Etugen opened with a 7–3 run. Tushig and Otgonbayar combined inside and out to cut it to 2. Lee Yu Jin’s three extended Yonsei’s lead, but Otgonbayar’s repeated drives got him into double figures and narrowed it to 1. Lee Hae Sol drilled his third triple, and Lee Yu Jin added more points, but Tushig responded again. Yonsei lost the quarter 17–25, with its lead cut to 44–43 at halftime. At the break, Tushig had 18, Otgonbayar 12; no Yonsei player was yet in double figures.
• Third Quarter: Tushig and Barsbold sparked an 8–0 run to push Etugen ahead by 7. Yonsei answered inside and out, but Barsbold and Tushig kept attacking the paint. Lee Ju Yeong hit a three, but Barsbold replied with one of his own. The quarter ended with Etugen on top 71–64. After three, Lee Ju Yeong had 13 for Yonsei, while Tushig (24), Barsbold (21), and Otgonbayar (14) powered Etugen.
• Fourth Quarter: Etugen’s “big three” combined for a 10–5 run to stretch the lead to 81–69. Kim Seung Woo and Lee Ju Yeong hit threes to close the gap, but Munkhbaatar Sugar answered from deep. Yonsei surged with an 8–2 run to get within 3. Etugen scored again, but disaster struck when Tushig was ejected after his second technical foul, gifting Yonsei a free throw. Kim Seung Woo nailed a clutch three to make it a 2-point game. But Benderiya Sandagdorj drove for a key basket, Yonsei missed a crucial shot, and Barsbold Baatar-Erdene sealed the win at the line. Etugen closed it out 93–87.

Starting Lineups

Yonsei University: Lee Ju Yeong, Lee Yu Jin, Hong Sang Min, Kim Seung Woo, Ahn Sung Woo
Etugen University: Benderiya Sandagdorj, Bat-Erdene Bayanmunkh, Odbayar Ganzorig, Barsbold Baatar-Erdene, Tushig Elbeg

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