It was a night for the history books at Goyang Sono Arena as Goyang Sono delivered a resounding 111-77 victory over Busan KCC in the 2025-2026 LG Electronics professional basketball regular season on March 19, 2026. The win not only marked Sono's eighth consecutive triumph—a new club record—but also propelled the team into sole possession of fifth place, leapfrogging KCC in the standings and igniting hopes for their first-ever playoff appearance in just their third season since founding in 2023.
The stakes were sky-high before tipoff, with both teams sitting neck-and-neck at 25-23 and battling for playoff positioning. But by the final buzzer, there was no doubt which squad had seized the momentum. Sono’s balanced attack and relentless defense left KCC reeling, handing the visitors their third straight defeat and dropping them to sixth place with a 24-24 record.
The opening quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair, with both coaches emphasizing the importance of a strong start. KCC coach Lee Sang-min remarked, “In our previous matchup in the fifth round, we let opportunities slip away. The outcome tonight depends on how well we control the early stages.” On the opposite bench, Sono coach Son Chang-hwan noted, “There isn’t a single player on KCC you can take lightly. If they get rolling early, they’re a scary team. Our plan is to come out aggressive from the start.”
Indeed, the first quarter lived up to the billing. Sono briefly took the lead at 19-17 with two minutes left, but KCC answered on their final possession to edge ahead 23-22 after one. That slim margin, however, would soon evaporate.
As the second quarter began, Sono’s defense and outside shooting came alive. The home team forced a string of KCC turnovers and quickly surged ahead 31-25. A timely timeout from KCC did little to stem the tide, as Sono’s rebounding and hustle outpaced their rivals. The highlight of the quarter came when Kim Jin-yu drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer, sending the crowd into a frenzy and giving Sono a 49-36 halftime lead.
The third quarter saw Sono shift into an even higher gear. The squad rained down seven three-pointers, with Kang Ji-hoon, Nathan Knight, and Choi Seung-wook all connecting from deep. KCC’s star guard Heo Woong, returning from a neck sprain, tried to rally his side, but every time KCC threatened, Sono answered. Kevin Kemba and veteran Lee Jae-do combined for a critical scoring run, and by the end of the quarter, Sono’s lead had ballooned to 82-57. The visitors’ comeback hopes were dashed, and the arena buzzed with anticipation of a record-breaking night.
In the fourth quarter, there was no let-up from Sono. The team’s depth was on full display as six different players finished in double figures: Egidijus Motuzas (17 points, 10 rebounds), Kevin Kemba (13 points, 11 rebounds), Lee Jung-hyun (15 points), Lee Jae-do (13 points, 6 assists), Lim Dong-seop (12 points), and Choi Seung-wook (11 points). “All 12 players who stepped on the court scored tonight,” noted one local commentator. “It’s not about one superstar carrying the load—everyone’s contributing.”
Veteran guard Lee Jae-do, in particular, played a pivotal role. Despite seeing his minutes reduced this season due to a rib injury and shifting from a starting role to coming off the bench, Lee delivered 13 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals in just over 16 minutes of play. He was instrumental in halting KCC’s momentum in the second quarter, working seamlessly with Motuzas to disrupt the visitors’ flow. Lee reflected after the game, “I’ve experienced some long winning streaks with Anyang KGC and Changwon LG in the past, but this run feels almost unbelievable. The atmosphere wasn’t great earlier in the season, but now we’re writing a turnaround story. It’s clear other teams are starting to find us a tough matchup.”
Lee’s humility and gratitude stood out as he discussed his new role. “I’ve always been a starter except for my rookie year, but now I’m a backup for the first time. The roles are very different—I didn’t realize it before, but I’ve learned a lot this season. I’m just thankful to the team and coaching staff for believing in me and waiting for me to recover. When you’re older, that kind of patience isn’t easy to find. I just want to repay that trust and contribute to the team’s success, even if it’s in a smaller way.”
With ace scorer Lee Jung-hyun briefly sidelined, Lee Jae-do’s presence was even more critical. The bench mob, led by Lee, outscored KCC’s reserves 65-31—a testament to Sono’s depth and resilience. Lee Jung-hyun, meanwhile, continued his own streak of excellence, tallying 15 points and extending his run of double-digit scoring games to 42, now ranking third all-time among domestic players. “It’s an honor to be mentioned alongside legends like Seo Jang-hoon and Oh Se-geun,” Lee Jung-hyun said after the game.
KCC, for their part, struggled to match Sono’s energy and execution. Heo Woong fought valiantly, posting 18 points in his return, while his brother Heo Hoon added 12 points and 6 assists, and import Sean Long chipped in 13 points. But the visitors were plagued by turnovers and a lack of defensive cohesion, especially in transition. Coach Lee Sang-min admitted, “We just couldn’t keep up with their pace. Sono’s hustle and teamwork made all the difference.”
As the final minutes ticked down, Sono’s lead peaked at 98-61 with just under five minutes remaining—a staggering 37-point margin. The crowd roared as the home team cruised to a 34-point victory, capping off a night of milestones and cementing their status as the league’s hottest team.
For Goyang Sono, the win wasn’t just about numbers on the scoreboard. It signaled a new era for a club that, just a season ago, languished near the bottom of the standings. Now, with a franchise-record win streak, a playoff berth in sight, and a roster firing on all cylinders, Sono’s players and fans alike are daring to believe. As Lee Jae-do put it, “We’ve come this far—it’d be a shame to stop now. The opportunity is here, and we’re going to see it through to the end.”