Read the other KHU basketball team's journey this year

● KHU Falls to SKKU 63-54, Eight-game Winning Streak Comes to an End 

Kim Sou drives through CAU's defense for a layup

No. 1 vs. No. 3: A Two-Game Gap On The Line

The 2026 KUSF University Basketball U-League is the top-flight men's college basketball league in South Korea, run by the KUSF. Now in its 17th season, the league tipped off on March 23, and the men’s division was organized with 11 university teams after Chosun University was relegated to the second division. Each team plays 20 games during the season, facing every opponent twice.

The league has now passed the three-quarter mark of the season and is heading toward the playoffs. According to KUSF, roughly 70% of the 110 scheduled regular-season games had been played as of match day. CAU (14-1) sat on top of the table, with Korea University (KU) (13-2) in second, followed by KHU (12-3) and Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) (11-3). It is a phase where every remaining game can shake up the standings.

KHU had signaled its intentions from the opening weekend. The team opened the season with two straight wins in March, defeated Yonsei University 75-53—a team that had beaten KHU 13 times in a row over seven years—and has held its place in the top tier ever since. Before entering this game, KHU sat two games behind CAU, threatening CAU’s first-place position.

CAU, for its part, had been the only team in the league to hold its early-season pace. Its 14-1 record spoke to a consistency that showed up regardless of opponent or venue. And in the previous match in April, CAU had defeated KHU 89-73— making them the superior team on paper.

This match is where the standings were on the line for both schools. If KHU won, they would rise to a tie for second with KU, narrowing the gap with the first-place CAU to one game. Conversely, if CAU won, they would improve to 15-1, widening the gap with KU from 1.5 to 2 games,  while creating 3 games lead over KHU, securing an advantageous position to cement their first-place standing.

Overcoming a 22-Point Deficit, Bringing It Back to Square One

CAU took control of the game in the first quarter. CAU aggressively attacked the rim, penetrating the paint to rack up points, and when Ko Chan-yu began scoring in earnest, KHU was pushed back to 18-26.  In response, KHU found a clue for a counterattack with three-pointers from Bae Hyun-sik and Lim Sung-chae, while Jhon Obele helped from the perimeter. Moreover, Park Chang-hee and Shin Eun-chan succeeded with mid-range jumpers to narrow the gap, but the lead belonged to CAU, 24-29.

The flow did not change much in the second quarter. Son Hyun-chang showed his presence on both offense and defense, breathing life into the team, and Lim kept the flow with three points, showing that KHU tried to close the gap with fast transition attacks. However, they could not completely shake CAU’s teamwork, and the first half ended at 43-50, still with CAU in the lead.

John Obele attempts a two-pointer against tight CAU defense

The momentum definitively shifted in the third quarter. KHU failed to score a single point for four minutes after the quarter started, allowing CAU a series of points in the meantime. In particular, they failed to stop Ko’s relentless attacks, eventually allowing a double-digit lead and stretching the gap to 22 points (47-69). KHU did not give up to narrow the score gap; however, they still trailed the entire game, ending the third quarter at 53-71.

Kim Soo-oh drives for a layup in the third quarter, looking to narrow the large deficit

Sin Eun-chan's three-pointer, which helped KHU chase down CAU's lead by shifting the momentum

However, in the final fourth quarter, an unexpected reversal began. For the first four minutes of the quarter, KHU completely shut down CAU’s offense, holding them to zero points. At the same time, a fierce counterattack began: perimeter shots from Son and Kim Seo-won sparked the comeback, and following a put-back by Obele, Bae drained two three-pointers, as seven players evenly contributed points. Spearheaded by explosive firepower, KHU finally tied the game at 78-78, dragging the match into a dramatic overtime.

Finished by Bae Hyun-sik with 10 Seconds Left

In the first overtime, both teams continued a tight, uncompromising battle. Early in the quarter, KHU took a 5-point lead with Bae’s two-point shot and three free throws, but CAU chased fiercely, refusing to let KHU pull away. Ultimately, Obele’s final free throw missed the rim, sending the match into the second overtime at 86-86.

John Obele attempts a critical free throw in the last moment of the first overtime

The second overtime was also decided after a close contest. In a back-and-forth one-point game, KHU gave up the lead early in the quarter, falling behind 88-90. However, KHU regained the flow with persistent scoring under the basket, and with 10 seconds left on the clock, Bae’s game-winning two-point shot passed through the net. The final score was 92-90. It was a dramatic comeback victory for KHU.

Bae Hyun-sik tied it up at 90-90 with a crucial layup, sparking KHU's thrilling comeback victory over CAU

Meeting right after the match, Bae cited the team’s cohesion as the reason for the victory. He recalled, “I think we lost our previous game because we did not play well among ourselves, even though it was a game we could have easily won. We were frustrated by that, so this game was one where we all expressed that frustration.” He added, “Because that mindset kept showing up, everyone became passionate, became one team, and developed the cohesion that allowed us to win.”

He emphasized that the power of the bench was the reason they could overturn a situation where they were once down by 22 points. “We kept lifting the mood among ourselves, saying ‘we can do it, let’s not get down,’” he said. “The head coach and coaches also kept giving us strength, saying, 'A 20-point difference is nothing; we can definitely catch up; there is still a lot of time left.’ We gained confidence from that, which allowed us to play without fear on the court as well.”

Bae Hyun-sik is giving an interview after the match as the most valuable player

President Kim Jin-sang, who watched the match from the stands, personally encouraged the team after the game. President Kim stated, “I send my greatest encouragement to our basketball team, who demonstrated the Kyung Hee spirit and were on par with our school’s athletic prowess, and more specifically, the long history of our basketball team.”

He continued, “Our Kyung Hee spirit is an indomitable will,” emphasizing that “an indomitable will is about making the utmost effort even in very difficult conditions to achieve a surprising result that others did not expect.” He then added, “I am so grateful that they showed such skills in a very long game today.” It was this overall review of the match where they overturned a 22-point deficit and took down the league’s first-place team in double overtime.

One Game Away from First Place, The Real Battle Starts Now

With this victory, KHU laid the groundwork to closely pursue CAU. As a result of this day, CAU maintained first place at 14-2, but KHU rose to a tie for second place with KU  at 13-3, narrowing the gap with CAU from two games to one. The competition to reclaim the first-place spot has become much more competitive. 

This match is a turning point that could also have a major impact on upcoming playoffs. After the regular season ends, the top teams enter a tournament-style playoff, starting from the quarterfinals, and the first-place team in the regular season secures home-court advantage— being able to host every match on its home court. As the top three teams are currently clustered within a one-game margin, the race for the first-place spot is expected to remain unpredictable until the very end.

Now reaching the latter half of the league, the players are also strengthening their resolve for the playoffs. Bae expressed,  “First of all, I do not think our team can afford any more injuries,” showing the determination to fully demonstrate their skills on the court until the end. He continued, “There is not much time left until the playoffs, but I will try my best to win all the remaining games so we can enter the playoffs with a high ranking.”

The KHU basketball team poses for a group photo

KHU’s next opponent is league co-runner-up KU. This game, to be held at Seonseung Building on KHU Global Campus on September 17, is a match that will essentially decide the landscape of the first-place competition with CAU. KU is a team that has been on a winning streak throughout the season after losing to SKKU and CAU during the first month. Especially since they defeated KHU 77-69 this season, it is expected to be a formidable challenge for KHU. Whether KHU’s confidence will carry over to the weight of the next game, the test approaches immediately, leaving barely any time to enjoy the excitement of the victory.

Overcoming a grim situation where they fell behind by up to 22 points, KHU dragged the game through two overtimes to snatch a dramatic victory. With this single game, KHU stepped one pace closer toward the regular season championship. All eyes are on the final chapter of the league to see if KHU can overtake CAU and claim first place in their remaining games, including the upcoming clash with KU.