National Games Group Stage - Hu Jinqiu scores 25 points, Zhou Qi records 24 points and 18 rebounds; Sichuan’s star-studded lineup overwhelms Hubei by 63 points

On November 4th, during the National Games men's basketball group stage, Sichuan competed against Hubei. The disparity between the teams was huge; Hubei managed just 6 points in the second quarter, and the game was decided by halftime. Sichuan won decisively, 124-61. Zhou Qi contributed 24 points and 18 rebounds, Sun Minghui had 9 points, 4 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals, Hu Jinqiu scored 25 points with 6 rebounds, Zhao Yanhao added 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, Zhao Jiaren posted 16 points and 7 rebounds, and Jing Hanyi put up 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists. For Hubei, Wang Xiaoming scored 20 points and Xue Shiwei had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

In the first quarter, Hu Jinqiu and Sun Minghui scored consecutively, giving Sichuan an early 4-0 lead. Jia Yijie and Li Muhao combined to even the score. Sichuan then went on a 6-0 run to extend their lead, with Sun Minghui hitting a three-pointer and Zhou Qi easily finishing near the basket, pushing Sichuan into double digits ahead. Jing Hanyi and Zhao Yanhao continued to widen the gap. At the end of the first quarter, Sichuan led Hubei 29-16.

In the second quarter, Zhao Yanhao and Jing Hanyi hit back-to-back long-range shots, and Zhao Jiaren’s jump shot extended the lead to 20 points. With Hu Jinqiu opening his scoring with a three-pointer, Sichuan’s offense became unstoppable, leaving Hubei helpless. Zhou Qi dominated inside the paint, and Sichuan’s lead grew beyond 30 points. By halftime, Sichuan was leading 65-22, with Hubei scoring only 6 points in this quarter.

In the second half, Jiang Wen nailed a catch-and-shoot three-pointer, and Sun Minghui’s steal set up Zhao Jiaren to further increase the lead. Due to the clear difference in strength, Hubei struggled to match Sichuan’s intensity on both ends of the court. Zhou Qi was unchallenged inside, while Sichuan’s shooters, including the young stars from Guangsha and others, scored effortlessly from outside. Before the third quarter ended, Sichuan was already ahead by 60 points. Near the quarter’s close, Hubei hit several three-pointers, but still trailed 44-96 after three quarters.

In the final quarter, Hu Jinqiu’s floater put Sichuan over 100 points, with the result no longer in doubt. Hubei’s efforts were focused on minimizing the margin of defeat, as net point difference could be crucial for advancing from the group. Zhou Qi and Zhao Jiaren continued scoring inside, showing Sichuan’s relentless approach. After Zhao Yanhao made another three-pointer, Sichuan finished with a dominant 124-61 win over Hubei.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Sichuan: Jiang Wen, Zhao Jiaren, Sun Minghui, Hu Jinqiu, Wu Xiao

Hubei: Jia Yijie, Yang Linyi, Xue Shiwei, Li Muhao, Guo Xiaopeng