Huaqiao University left the court with an 87-78 road win over Lee Ming Institute of Technology on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, closing out a Club Friendship fixture that stayed tight for three quarters before the visitors pulled away in the final period. The nine-point margin flatters neither side: this was a game decided in a five-minute burst either side of the fourth-quarter timeout, when Huaqiao turned a two-point deficit into a double-digit cushion behind sharper perimeter shooting and a decisive edge on the offensive glass.

For Lee Ming, the result is a frustrating one. The hosts led for long stretches of the first half and were within a single possession entering the last quarter, but a scoreless spell of nearly three minutes allowed the visitors to seize control. Huaqiao's late-game execution — patient half-court sets, disciplined closeouts, and free-throw shooting down the stretch — proved the difference in a match that had all the intensity of a rivalry game despite its Club Friendship billing.

Match Overview

• Fixture: Lee Ming Institute of Technology vs. Huaqiao University
• Competition: Club Friendship
• Date and time: September 22, 2026, 14:00
• Final score: Lee Ming Institute of Technology 78 – 87 Huaqiao University
• Result: Huaqiao University win by 9 points

The 165 combined points tell the story of a fast, transition-heavy contest. Both teams pushed the tempo early, hunting early offense off long rebounds and live-ball turnovers, and neither defense was able to impose itself for a full 40 minutes. Huaqiao's ability to convert in the half court when the pace slowed — particularly in the fourth quarter — ultimately separated two teams that matched up evenly for much of the afternoon.

How the Game Unfolded

Lee Ming opened brightly in front of a home crowd, attacking the rim off high ball screens and drawing early fouls to get into the bonus. The hosts' guards found rhythm from mid-range, and a couple of quick corner threes helped build a lead that hovered between four and seven points through the middle of the first half. Huaqiao stayed within touching distance by getting second-chance points, crashing the offensive boards with their frontcourt and turning missed shots into putbacks.

The second quarter brought the first significant shift. Huaqiao tightened its pick-and-roll coverage, switched more aggressively on the perimeter, and forced Lee Ming into contested jumpers late in the shot clock. A 9-0 run flipped the lead before halftime, and the teams went to the locker room separated by a single basket. That pattern — punch, counter-punch, minimal separation — carried into the third quarter, which ended with the scoreboard nearly level and both benches fully engaged.

Key Moments

• Early Lee Ming surge: A quick 7-0 burst in the opening quarter, built on drives and free throws, gave the hosts their largest lead of the afternoon.
• Huaqiao's response before halftime: A 9-0 run sparked by defensive stops and transition baskets swung momentum and set up the tight finish.
• The decisive fourth-quarter stretch: Huaqiao held Lee Ming scoreless for close to three minutes while converting at the other end, stretching the lead into double figures.
• Closing free throws: With the hosts forced to foul, the visitors knocked down their attempts from the line to protect the margin and close out the win.

Tactical Story

Both coaching staffs came in with clear plans. Lee Ming wanted to play fast, spread the floor, and let its guards attack one-on-one in space. That approach worked for two and a half quarters, but it became less effective as the game wore on and legs tired — the hosts' jumpers began falling short, and their half-court offense grew stagnant when the first option was taken away.

Huaqiao, by contrast, grew more deliberate as the game progressed. The visitors leaned on ball movement, attacked mismatches inside, and prioritized getting to the rim rather than settling for early threes. Their rebounding advantage, especially on the offensive end, produced the extra possessions that tip close games. Defensively, Huaqiao's switch-heavy scheme disrupted Lee Ming's screening actions and forced the hosts into late-clock heaves in the fourth quarter — precisely the scenario the visitors wanted.

Standout Performances

Huaqiao's backcourt controlled the tempo, balancing scoring with playmaking and making smart decisions against pressure. Their interior players were the game's quiet engine, winning loose balls and generating second-chance opportunities that kept the offense afloat during dry spells. The bench also cont