Yang Hansen scores buzzer-beater as China beats Lebanon 89-87 in FIBA qualifier

Yang Hansen scored a dramatic late winner to give China an 89-87 victory over Lebanon in their Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers clash on Monday, in a game almost overshadowed by a fan throwing a ball that hit the home star.

The 21-year-old Yang sealed the win at the Xishi Basketball Centre in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, with a buzzer-beating bank shot, improving China’s record to 5-3 in the second stage of qualifying and keeping them third in their group.

China had squandered a six-point lead with 40 seconds remaining after a series of defensive lapses and a foul on a three-point attempt allowed Lebanon to tie the game at 87-87 with 4.1 seconds left.

The dramatic finish followed a bizarre disturbance in the fourth quarter. After Yang was fouled and fell to the floor, a teenager in a front-row VIP seat picked up the loose ball and hurled it back onto the court.

The ball struck China captain Zhao Jiwei before bouncing towards Yang while he was still on the floor. Security personnel promptly tackled the spectator, who was later identified as the 16-year-old son of a local sponsor, physically hauling him out of the arena.

Prominent basketball commentator Su Qun said the teen threw the ball because he was angry over a series of uncalled physical fouls committed by Lebanon’s naturalised centre, the American-born DJ Funderburk, but missed his intended target.