The Beijing Ducks beat the Liaoning Hunters 88-82 Friday evening for their third straight victory in the 2004-2005 regular season Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) League.

Chinese international Guo Shiqiang made one of two free throws with 64 seconds to go to pull the Hunters within 85-82. But Zhang Yunsong nailed in a three pointer 28 seconds later to seal the victory for the Ducks.

The Ducks now ranked first in the North Division with a 3-0 record while the Hunters fell to 2-1.

"Our players did a great job," said Beijing Ducks' head coach Min Lulei. "They were very tired after Wednesday's away game against Shandong Flaming Bulls, but they held on at the end of the game."

The Hunters, who had started well in their first two games of the season, struggled in the first half, allowing the Ducks build up a 19-point advantage.

"We struggled in our defense early in the game, that's why we lost," said Liaoning head coach Jiang Xingquan.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2004)