S. Korea Blows Out Indonesia To Open Men's Basketball Title Defense

South Korea blew out Indonesia 104-65 on Tuesday to open its Asian Games men's basketball title defense.

JAKARTA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :South Korea blew out Indonesia 104-65 on Tuesday to open its Asian Games men's basketball title defense.

Ricardo Ratliffe, a US-born player who acquired South Korean citizenship in January this year, led all players with 30 points and 19 rebounds in Group A action at GBK Basketball Hall. He was one of six players to score in double figures.

The opening ceremony of the 18th Asian Games, which will run through September 2, is on Saturday. But preliminary games in basketball, football and handball will be played beforehand to accommodate long tournament schedules.

South Korea defeated Iran for the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. It is trying to win back-to-back gold medals in men's basketball for the first time.

South Korea outscored Indonesia 28-18 in the first quarter and never looked back. It was 53-31 for South Korea at halftime, and it went on a 17-4 run to close out the third quarter up 80-45.

Indonesia never got to within even 30 points the rest of the way. Andakara Prastawa Dhyaksa led the host nation with 20 points.

South Korea shot 59 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range, while outrebounding Indonesia 41-26.

South Korea will next face Mongolia on Thursday, and then play Thailand on Aug. 22, all at GBK Basketball Hall.

There are three groups of four and one group of two in the tournament. The top two teams from each will reach the quarterfinals, though Group B only consists of Iran and Syria and they're both assured of spots in the final eight.