TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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BAMBERG BEATS ULM!
ratiopharm Ulm came up short against defending Bundesliga champions brose Baskets Bamberg, but within Sunday's 81-69 loss are many positives for the Ulm team. As Ulm pulled within 32-31, Bamberg's experienced and talented league leading 17-1 squad broke the game open with a 16-3 run over the final four minutes of the first half. Trailing by 21 points (63-42) midway through the third, ratiopharm Ulm rallied to a 15-3 run cutting the deficit to 66-57 after three. But behind Casey Jacbosen and Predrag Suput, Bamberg controlled play in the fourth quarter outscoring Ulm 15-12 to earn the win. Per Gunther paced ratiopharm Ulm's attack with 12 points followed by Robin Benzing with 11 points 5 rebounds and Rocky Trice with 10 points 8 boards in the loss. Despite the loss, ratiopharm Ulm takes many positives from the game and looks to build on their performance against the Bundesliga's best.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice takes off to attack the rim against brose Baskets Bamberg Sunday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
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Playing their first game of the 'ruckrunde' (second half of the season), ratiopharm Ulm hosted defending Beko Basketball Bundesliga champions brose Baskets Bamberg in the middle of a challenging schedule just before the All Star break. After topping the second place Deutsche Bank Skyliners Thursday at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm was focused for another upset against league-leading Bamberg. After falling short in Bamberg 70-59 to open the season back in October, ratiopharm Ulm entered Sunday's game with momentum from 4 victories in their last five games. But the battle-tested Bamberg team has played a tremendous season and brings super selfconfidence to their Bundesliga games after their success in the Euroleague this year. A sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd gave ratiopharm Ulm fantastic support in their bid for an upset against the Bundesliga's best from Bamberg.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther extends to finish as Bamberg center Tibor Pleiss defends Sunday at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Tipping off, ratiopharm Ulm was ready for the challenge against first placed defending champions brose Baskets Bamberg. NBA draftee Tibor Pleiss won the tip and Bamberg attacked for the first offense. Ulm defense recorded a stop and Ulm attacked on offense. Eventually, center John Bryant got the first points of the game with a stong post move from the left block. At the other end, Bamberg's Predrag Suput showed his crafty scoring skills finishing a tough post move at the rim. Ulm went to John Bryant once again and the skillful Ulm center finished a pick and roll with a strong finger roll through a foul. Ulm led 4-2. At the other end, John established himself as well with a shot block sending the basketball out of bounds. On the ensuing inbound play, Bamberg star Casey Jacobsen curled under the basket and finished a strong layup to even the score at the 8 minute mark. After Bamberg defense stopped Ulm, hardworking Anton Gavel drilled a right wing three giving Bamberg their first lead 7-4. Sean Sonderleiter answered with an elbow jumpshot for Ulm making it 7-6 with 7 minutes in the first half. Casey Jacobsen struck again curling a baseline screen and finishing at the rim. Bamberg led 9-6. Rocky Trice tipped in a basket for Ulm cutting the lead to 1, 9-8 with 6:34.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Sean Sonderleiter powers up against a Bamberg double team in the post from Tibor Pleiss (21) and Predrag Suput (8).
Bamberg undersized post man Kyle Hines finished through a foul and completed the three point play lifting Bamberg to a 12-8 lead before Sebastian Betz's hardwork on the offensive end was rewarded with a finish in the lane. Ulm trailed 12-10. Predrag Suput was fouled earning two free throws and the skilled scoring forward sank one of two from the foul line, but on the next possession, Suput scored through a foul and completed the three point play pushing Bamberg to a 16-10 advantage with 4:20 in the quarter. Bamberg pressed after the free throw make, but Ulm broke the press intelligently and forward Coleman Collins completed the press attack with a strong two hand slam. At the other end, Kyle Hines caught an athletic lob over the top of the Ulm zone defense and one possession later scored in the post. Bamberg built a 20-12 lead. Coleman Collins tip dunked home two points for Ulm before Bamberg guard Karsten Tadda converted one of two from the foul line. In the last minute of the quarter, Bamberg's scoring guard Brian Roberts cut hard off a UCLA screen and finished a skillful pullup jumpshot along the baseline. Bamberg led 23-14. Ulm came up with a defensive stop on Bamberg's last possession of the first quarter as Sebastian Betz blocked a shot and Robin Benzing grabbed the loose ball rebound. Robin raced up the court trying to beat the clock. Hoisting a top of the key three, Robin's shot bounced long off the back of the rim. In an instant, Ulm post man Sean Sonderleiter caught and fired a shot as the buzzer sounded. Sean's shot went in, but officials waved it off ruling it to be a split second after time expired. Sportszentrum Kuhberg let officials know their opinion of the call as the crowd was instantly in an uproar. Ulm trailed 23-14 at the end of one.
ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant extends to finish early in Sunday's home game against defending BEKO Basketball Bundesliga champions brose Baskets Bamberg.
As quarter two began, Ulm's Per Gunther was knocked from the game after taking a hit to the head while defending a Karsten Tadda drive. Woozy and seeing stars, Per was treated by Ulm medical staff Dr Christoph Buch and team physiotherapist Andi Lacher. Subbing into the game, Ulm's Travis Walton was focused to keep the Ulm attack going. Ulm captain Lee Humphrey buried a right wing three at the 9:41 mark trimming the deficit to 23-17. John Bryant blocked another shot for Ulm on the defensive end before Robin Benzing buried a top of the key three at the 8:15 mark cutting the margin to 23-20. Bamberg called a timeout.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Travis Walton attacks the basket in transition drawing a foul in the first half against brose Baskets Bamberg Sunday at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
Out of the timeout, Ulm's Travis Walton sank two free throws pulling Ulm within one 23-22. Bamberg's Reyshawn Terry hammered home a lob dunk over the Ulm defense pushing the defending champs to a 25-22 lead. But Ulm captain Lee Humphrey drilled a right corner three to tie the score as the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd errupted. But Bamberg's Casey Jacobsen responded immediately hitting a lead-building right corner three of his own. Ulm's Rocky Trice bumped a cut to open space along the right baseline and sank a smooth pull up. Bamberg led 28-27 with 5:48 to go. Tibor Pleiss finished in the paint for Bamberg before Casey Jacobsen drew a foul at the 5:15 mark. Ulm used a timeout. After the break, the former NBA guard sank both free throws pushing Bamberg up 32-27. Ulm's Lee Humphrey attacked the basket and drew a foul before making one of two free throws. Ulm trailed 32-28 with 4:56. Rocky Trice finished in the lane pulling Ulm within two at 4:24 and Rocky blocked a shot triggering a fast break that saw Per Gunther draw a foul. Bamberg took their second timeout. 3:56 remained in the half.
ratiopharm Ulm's Coleman Collins finishes a press attack with a two hand slam as Bamberg's Predrag Suput challenges.
Ulm point guard Per Gunther stepped to the foul line with a chance to tie. Making his first, Per pulled Ulm within one 32-31. But Per's second shot rimmed out and Bamberg attacked. Stepping up, the defending champions finished the first half strong with a 16-3 run to take control of the game. The Bamberg run began with a Predrag Suput left wing three giving the guests a 34-31 lead. Casey Jacobsen buried a transition three from the left wing and Bamberg led 37-31 with 3:10 to go. After an Ulm empty possession, Jacobsen sank another three giving Bamberg a 40-31 lead. Ulm used their second timeout with 2:56 remaining. Ulm came up empty out of the timeout and Bamberg's Anton Gavel drew a foul that led to one more free throw and a ten point lead for Bamberg. Robin Benzing snapped the run with a pick and pop top of the key three and Ulm trailed 41-34. But Tibor Pleiss got another Bamberg basket with just over one minute to go and took a beautiful pass from Suput for another score pushing Bamebrg to a 45-34 cushion. Closing the quarter like champions, Bamberg moved the ball to Suput who sank a buzzer beating left wing three. As the first half came to a close, Bamberg's 16-3 surge gave them control of the game and a 48-34 lead.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Robin Benzing buries a pick and pop top of the key three over a contesting Reyshawn Terry Sunday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
At the half, Ulm looked at their 14 point deficit and focused on more efficient offensive execution. In the first half, Bamberg shot 53% from the floor making 5 of 9 threes (56%) and 7 of 10 free throws compared with ratiopharm Ulm's 38% shooting with 4 of 7 threes (57%) and 4 of 7 free throws. Bamberg's strong team defense provided the biggest challenge for Ulm and Ulm focused to step up their execution to create opportunities. Bamberg outrebounded Ulm 20-19 and Casey Jacobsen made the difference with 15 first half points. Making their adjustments and focusing their attack, ratiopharm Ulm returned to the floor aiming to raise their level of production.
Ulm Sabres wheelchair basketball team played at halftime of the ratiopharm Ulm and brose Baskets Bamberg game Sunday at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Opening the second half, Ulm's Sean Sonderleiter received a beautiful pass from John Bryant and finished at the rim. Ulm trailed 48-36. But Bamberg would make another run outscoring Ulm 12-6 to build a 60-40 lead by the 6 minute mark. The Bamberg run began with back to back threes by Jacobsen and Suput. Ulm came up empty and with 6:56 remaining in the third, Ulm used a timeout trailing 54-36. Out of the timeout, Per Gunther poked loose a steal and finished a breakaway layup at 6:30. Tibor Pleiss slammed home two points for Bamberg and completed the three point play lifting Bamberg to 57-38 with 6:21 in the third. Per Gunther finished a drive with a left handed layup at 6:11 but Bamberg's John Goldsberry buried a left wing three giving the guests a 60-40 cushion.
ratiopharm Ulm center and brose Baskets Bamberg big man Tibor Pleiss battle for position on the block in Sunday's game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
On the ropes against the battle-tested Bamberg team, Ulm rallied to finish the third quarter strong. Rocky Trice drew a foul and sank two free throws but Bamberg's Casey Jacobsen struck again from three. At the five minute mark, Ulm trailed by 21, 63-42. In the final five minutes of the third, Ulm outscored Bamberg 15-3 fighting their way back into the game. Ulm closed out the quarter . Ulm's Sebastian Betz came up with a steal and score before Rocky Trice grabbed an offensive rebound and put back a basket cutting the margin to 63-46. Sebastian Betz keyed a defensive stop and Per Gunter drew a foul earning two free throws. Making both, Per pulled Ulm within 63-48 at the 3:40 mark. Robin Benzing drew a charge and Per Gunther added two more free throws. Ulm was down 63-50 with 2:13 to go. Another Ulm defensive stop led to Robin Benzing being fouled shooting a top of the key three. Robin cooly sank all three free throws helping Ulm cut the lead to 10, 63-53 with 1:47. Ulm's 11-0 run brought the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd back into the game.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Robin Benzing drives strong to the hoop as Bamberg point guard John Goldsberry and Tibor Pleiss step in.
With 1:20 on the third quarter clock, Bamberg's Brian Roberts finished a tough midlane shot off glass lifting Bamberg to a 65-53 lead. But Ulm's Travis Walton drew a foul and made two free throws in response. With 1:03 in the third, Bamberg's Predrag Suput sank one of two free throws giving his team a 66-55 lead. But Ulm's Coleman Collins came up with the big play deflecting an elbow entry pass for a steal that lead to a breakaway slam dunk. Ulm finished the third quarter with a defensive stop and trailed by 9, 66-57. After a 14 point halftime deficit and 21 point mid-third quarter margin, ratiopharm Ulm was fired up for the fourth quarter and focused to make a run in the final ten minutes.
ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey attacks the Bamberg defnese in a ballscreen as Kyle Hines and Karsten Tadda (9) defend.
In the fourth quarter, the experience and intelligence of Bamberg emerged as a decisive factor. In the first minute of the fourth, Ulm missed a layup, suffered a turnover and fouled twice. Despite their slow start in the first two possessions, Travis Walton delivered a nice bounce pass to Sebastian Betz that led to a layup. Ulm trailed by 7, 66-59 with 8:45 in the game. It would be as close as Ulm could get.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther uses a John Bryant ballscreen as Bamberg's Brian Roberts defends.
In the decisive fourth quarter minutes, Ulm recorded a quality 10 defensive stops. Unfortunately, several open looks simply missed. Robin Benzing had an open three that rimmed out. At the other end, John Goldsberry hit a shot pullup shot. Ulm trailed 70-59 with 7:30 left. Lee Humphrey had a good look at a left wing three rim out. At the other end, Anton Gavel hit a pull up J. Bamberg rebuilt a 72-59 lead. 6:51 remained as Ulm called a timeout.
ratiopharm Ulm wing Sebastian Betz enjoyed a strong effort against Bamberg with 8 points 5 rebounds in Sunday's action.
Unfortunately, the lid stayed on Ulm's basket as John Bryant rimmed out a clean look at a pick and pop three. At the other end, early fouls in the fourth quarter caught up to Ulm as Bamberg entered the bonus at 6:14. Capitalizing, John Goldsberry sank both giving Bamberg a 74-59 margin. Ulm finally added to their score, as John Bryant drew a foul and made one of two from the foul line. After two defensive stops, Ulm had two open looks miss cutting into the comeback attempt. Time was running out on Ulm. Bamberg's Reyshawn Terry drew a foul on a fast break and made one of two free throws pushing the score to 75-60. 4:12 remained as Per Gunther drilled a right wing three, but Reyshawn Terry answered with a right wing three of his own keeping the defending champs one step ahead of Ulm. At the 3:28 mark, Ulm used their final timeout in a last attempt to change the game.
ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant shoots over a contesting Kyle Hines in Sunday's game.
Unfortunately for Ulm, Bamberg's execution down the stretch finished the game. Late in the game, Ulm received a scare as athletic guard Rocky Trice attacked the rim soaring high for a slam. Bamberg' Kyle Hines rotated over and attempted to draw a charge. The collision sent Rocky flipping out of control to the floor. Rocky left the game and Sebastian Betz subbed in to sink two free throws. Lee Humphrey added a late score and Bamberg ran out the clock in their 81-69 win.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Sean Sonderleiter finishes at the rim against Bamberg.
As ratiopharm Ulm shook hands and congratulated the Bamberg team, there was respect for the defending champions who played so well during their Euroleague run. Leaving everything on the floor, ratiopharm Ulm fought as hard as they could against the strong Bamberg team and Ulm can take many positives from the matchup.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice flies to the rim over a Kyle Hines foul in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against Bamberg.
ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey in triple threat against brose Bamberg Basket star Casey Jacobsen.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by Per Gunther who topscored with 12 points while Robin Benzing added 11 points 5 rebounds and Rocky Trice chipped in 10 points 8 boards in the loss. As a team, Ulm shot 34% from the game hitting 5 of 17 threes (29%) and 18 of 22 free throws (82%). Unfortunately for Ulm, 1 for 10 three point shooting in the second half cut short any comeback attempt they had in mind. Bamberg was led by Casey Jacobsen who hit 5 of 10 threes on his way to a game high 21 points, 9 rebounds 4 assists. Predrag Suput scored 15 points and Tibor Pleiss added 11 points 7 rebounds. Bamberg also outrebounded Ulm 43-40 in the game.
ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to a challenging rematch road game against the Deutsche Bank Skyliners Saturday January 15th in Frankfurt. . Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
