IMG K-Star opened the Singapore NBL Division 1 double-header with an 83-71 home victory over Scholar Basketball Academy on Friday, October 23, 2026, using a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away at 19:30.

The contest was close through the opening half, but IMG K-Star turned a one-point halftime edge into a comfortable cushion with a 27-16 third quarter. That run proved to be the difference in a game that had otherwise been tightly contested, and it gave the home side a valuable result in the Singapore NBL Division 1 standings.

Match overview

IMG K-Star led 21-18 after the first quarter, only for Scholar Basketball Academy to respond with a 20-19 second period and trim the deficit to 40-38 at the break. The home team then found another gear defensively, contesting shots at the rim and forcing Scholar into several rushed possessions. By the end of the third, IMG K-Star had built a 67-54 lead and never allowed the visitors to threaten a full comeback.

Key moments

• IMG K-Star closed the first half with a composed possession to take a two-point lead into the locker room.
• A 10-2 run midway through the third quarter broke the game open and forced Scholar Basketball Academy into a timeout.
• Scholar cut the lead to 11 early in the fourth, but IMG K-Star answered with back-to-back baskets in the paint.
• Free-throw execution in the final three minutes helped the home side protect the result.

Tactical story

IMG K-Star’s zone press was effective without being reckless. The home team used it selectively to speed Scholar up, then dropped back into a compact half-court defense that limited clean looks from beyond the arc. On offense, IMG K-Star shared the ball well and attacked the offensive glass, creating second-chance points that proved crucial during the third-quarter separation. Scholar Basketball Academy competed hard on the defensive end, but its half-court offense became too reliant on individual shot creation as the game wore on.

Standout players

IMG K-Star’s backcourt set the tone, with Marcus Lim scoring 21 points and adding seven assists. Daniel Tan controlled the paint with 14 rebounds and three blocked shots, while forward Ethan Chua chipped in 16 points. For Scholar Basketball Academy, Jovan Ng led the scoring with 19 points, and center Irfan Aziz contributed 12 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.

Season impact

The win strengthens IMG K-Star’s position in the upper half of the Singapore NBL Division 1 table and adds momentum to what is becoming a promising campaign. Scholar Basketball Academy leaves with a defeat but showed enough in the first half to suggest it can compete with the league’s stronger sides. The two teams will now turn their attention to the next round of fixtures, with IMG K-Star looking to build on a strong home performance and Scholar seeking greater consistency on offense.