Mengke Bateer ended in a double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds as the Beijing Ducks gained a 116-91 home win over the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, who have their seven-game winning streak broken.
Point guard Zhang Yunsong chipped in a game-high 27 points in the win for Beijing. Xie Libin had 19 points. Both of them each made five three-pointers. Williams Nate contributed 16 points and grabbed 12 boards off the bench in the win.
Xue Yuyang led Xinjiang with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Coleman Lorenzo had 15 points, Lu Xiaoming and Xu Guochong added 12 and 11 points respectively for the Flying Tigers.
Beijing led the scoring at 35-28 after first period, 64-46 after half game, and 92-61 after 36 minutes.
"Bateer is the best player in China, even in Asia." Dr. Carl Men Ky ching, President of the world basketball governing body FIBA, commented after watching the game personally.
Beijing has won three consecutive games, topping the north division with 20 wins and 4 losses.
In Yunnan, the Bulls upset the visiting Jiangsu Dragons 124-109.
Six Yunnan players ended in double figures, including Smith Jon, who had a game-high 38 points. The Bulls made 65.6% of their shots to snap Jiangsu's seven-game winning streak.
In other games, Zhejiang beat Dongguan 108-98, Fujian edged Shanghai 101-99, Jilin outplayed Shandong 93-89, and Liaoning trounced Henan for a 118-90 home triumph.
(China.org.cn by Li Xiao January 19, 2006)