TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM EARNS FIRST WIN!
ratiopharm Ulm earned their first win of the 2009-2010 Beko Bundesliga season beating brose Baskets Bamberg 76-75 Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Rocky Trice cooly sank two free throws putting Ulm up one with 15 seconds to play and Ulm's defense held on as two Bamberg game winning attempts rimmed out before the buzzer sounded ending the game. Rocky Trice led all scorers with 24 points 6 rebounds while Christian Burns added 16 points 8 boards and Coleman Collins chipped in 15 points 7 rebounds to the Ulm win.
ratiopharm Ulm's Coleman Collins extends for a first half slam in Friday nights 76-75 home win over brose Baskets Bamberg.
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After two hardfought losses last weekend, ratiopharm Ulm returned to the practice court this week with a focus on improving their defensive play and offensive efficiency. Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm's young team took their hardwork from the practice week and put it into action against the powerful Bamberg team. Coming off a Monday night win over Tubingen, Bamberg entered Friday nights matchup with Ulm
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice flies in for a first half slam as part of his outstanding 24 point 6 rebound performance Friday night against brose Baskets Bamberg at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Rocky sank the game-winning free throws helping Ulm earn their first win.
At tip off, ratiopharm Ulm was focused for a better start. Both Ulm and Bamberg opened with physical team defense and quality offensive play. Trailing 5-0 early, Ulm went on a 7-0 run taking a 7-5 lead. Teams traded baskets early on and five minutes into the game, Bamberg held a 1 point lead 12-11. Sparked by center Coleman Collins, Ulm surged ahead taking a 21-18 lead after the first quarter. In the first quarter run, Coleman finished an athletic drive in the paint, nailed two pullup jumpshots midlane and hammered home a monster dunk over a Bamberg defender on a ballscreen-dive play. Coleman's offensive explosion gave Ulm energy and the team found their rhythm in the game.
ratiopharm Ulm power forward Christian Burns made several big plays on both ends of the floor for his team as part of his 16 point 8 rebound night against Bamberg.
But as quarter two opened, Ulm ran into foul problems in the front court. A Coleman Collins left corner three gave Ulm a 28-23 lead. But Bamberg established the post well working the ball through powerful Elton Brown, skilled Predrag Suput and veteran Eric Taylor on the block. Bamberg raced to a 9-0 run pushing their lead to 32-29. Bamberg held momentum. But ratiopharm Ulm fought back and the tight game saw 8 lead changes in the first half. After Ulm's Rocky Trice sank a pullup jumper just before the halftime buzzer, Ulm trailed by 1, 44-43 at the break.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Robin Benzing finishes in the lane against Bamberg defender Predrag Suput Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Robin was solid scoring 11 points with 3 boards for Ulm.
At the half, Ulm was in solid position. Trailing by one, Ulm had outrebounded Bamberg 19-16 and points in the paint had Ulm up two 18-16. Bamberg's key halftime stats were their 54% field goal percentage aided by 4 for 8 three point shooting and solid work on the block inside. Bamberg's 14-23 from the foul line also helped them in the first half as Ulm was called for 16 fouls to Bamberg's 12. Ulm's Rocky Trice and Coleman Collins led the offensive production with 12 points apiece while Elton Brown totaled 16 points 6 boards going to work on the inside in the first twenty minutes. Aware of the importance of the early season game, Ulm rallied at halftime and returned to the floor looking for a strong start to the second half.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Kevin Kanaskie dished out a team best 4 assists
As the second half opened, Ulm got the start they were looking for. Pushing to a 57-50 lead midway through the third, Ulm's Per Gunther scored back to back buckets giving Ulm their largest lead. But the experienced Bamberg team responded trimming the deficit. Ulm held a 61-59 lead at the end of three.
ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey drives the lane against the tough Bamberg defense.
In the fourth, Bamberg's run continued. Predrag Suput sank a top of the key three and Ulm trailed 73-66 as they huddled in a timeout with just under five minutes remaining. Ulm's defense toughened. Over the next three minutes, Ulm earned important defensive stops and with 2 minutes remaining, the game was tied at 73. Trailing 75-74, Ulm resourcefully came up with two offensive rebounds keeping their possession alive before Rocky Trice drew a Bamberg foul. With 15.1 seconds remaining, Rocky stood at the foul line down one, with two shots. Cooly, Rocky sank both free throws regaining the lead for ratiopharm Ulm. Bamberg called time. Advancing the ball to halfcourt, Bamberg put the ball in guard Brian Roberts' hands. Ulm defense dug in. As the clock ticked down, anticipation and suspense in Sportszentrum Kuhberg went up. Initiating their play, Bamberg worked into a ballscreen situation that freed up a shooter from the right corner. The shot rimmed out. Casey Jacobsen collected the loose ball rebound mid-lane and casually swung the ball to the top of the key where Predrag Suput stood open. His shot was also off line. Players from both teams frantically hustled for control of the loose ball rebound. But before Bamberg could get another shot, the buzzer went off. Ulm had won by one.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther handles pressure from Bamberg's Brian Roberts.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by Rocky Trice's 24 point 6 rebound performance which included a clutch 8 for 9 from the foul line and 2 for 4 from three. Christian Burns added 16 points 8 rebounds, Coleman Collins chipped in 15 points 7 boards and Robin Benzing reached double figures scoring 11 points with 3 rebounds. As a team, Ulm hit 40% of their shots including 6 for 17 from three (35%) and 20 of 26 from the foul line (77%) while outrebounding Bamberg 37-35. Elton Brown led Bamberg with 20 points 9 boards, Predrag Suput added 13 points 6 rebounds, Brian Roberts had 12 points and Casey Jacobsen finished with 10 points 5 rebounds 5 assists. Bamberg shot 45% from the floor, 7 for 22 from three (32%) and 20 for 29 (69%) from the foul line.
ratiopharm Ulm post man John Bryant gave his team great hustle and energy in Friday's win over Bamberg.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther and the emotion moments after Ulm's win.
Ulm's hard-fought home win was the teams first of the 2009-2010 Beko Bundesliga season. Taking tremendous energy from the victory, ratiopharm Ulm looks to carry the momentum with them in their weekend road trip to Hagen for Sunday nights game. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
