TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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66
BONN BLITZES ULM!
ratiopharm Ulm fell behind early for the first time this season and Telekom Baskets Bonn intense team defense and fast-breaking team offense did the rest in Saturday nights 94-66 Bonn win before an energized Telekom Dome. While Ulm struggled through a sub-par performance, the story of the game was Bonn's suffocating team defense which blocked 9 Ulm shots and limited Ulm to 38% floor shooting. Jeff Gibbs posted a 15 point 11 rebound double double for Ulm in the loss.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs is surrounded by Telekom Baskets Bonn defense Saturday night at Telekom Dome in Bonn. The Bonn defense was outstanding recording 9 blocks in their win.
Click here for Ulm @ Bonn Box Score
ratiopharm Ulm made their first trip the the beautiful new Telekom Dome for a much-anticipated matchup between two 5-3 teams. While ratiopharm Ulm split games at home last weekend winning over Giessen before falling to ALBA Berlin, Ulm brought momentum from Tuesday nights German Cup road win in Munich to the game. Meanwhile Bonn had bounced back from an early season three game losing streak to capture back to back wins. Along with their momentum from two good Bundesliga games, Bonn also was ready to raise their level of play after challenging games in the FIBA Europe Cup in Greece. Ready for tip-off against Bonn, who reached last seasons Bundesliga Championship Series, ratiopharm Ulm's demanding early season schedule was set for the next quality opponent.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Dru Joyce finishes a floater over Bonn shot-blocker Ken Johnson in the first half of Saturday's game.
At tip off, the 4,910 basketball fans in the beautiful new Telekom Dome anticipated an exciting game as both teams brought 5-3 records into Saturday nights matchup. Both teams big men miss-fired on opening possessions and when Jeff Gibbs found Lee Humphrey trailing in transition, the Ulm sharpshooter drilled a top of the key three for the games first points giving Ulm a 3-0 lead. It would be short-lived. As Bonn quickly found their rhythm, Ulm suffered several turnovers in their next possessions including a fumbled post up, offensive foul for a moving screen, traveling violation and stepping on the sideline. Capitalizing, Bonn built a 10-3 lead and Ulm called for a timeout. Attempting to help the team re-focus and rally, Ulm aimed to get back into the game with better execution and more intense defense. For the first time of the new season ratiopharm Ulm did not open the game strong. Unfortunately, after the timeout, it was Bonn who made the run. Lee Humphrey sank a second three to cut the score to 10-6 but Bonn's terrific post defense and shot blocking sparked the teams first quarter surge. Two Brandon Bowman free throws and a Winsome Frazier three rebuilt Bonn's 10 point lead at 16-6. Dan Fitzgerald answered with a three for Ulm making it 16-9 but Frazier countered right back with a second three pushing the score to 19-9. At this point, Bonn post defense had stuffed Ulm's inside game and several quick shots led to Bonn fastbreaks the other way. Bonn went on a 10-1 run and when Patrick Flomo tipped in a shot at the first quarter buzzer, the rowdy Bonn fans celebrated their excellent first quarter and 29-10 lead.
Ulm captain Emeka Erege drives strong to the basket Saturday's in Bonn. The only thing ratiopharm Ulm could celebrate on the evening was Emeka's 30th birthday.
As quarter two opened, Jeff Gibbs sank two free throws and Emeka Erege drew consecutive fouls, the second being a three point play opportunity. Ulm continued to establish their offensive game against the intense Bonn team defense. On the other end, Ulm worked to get defensive stops but Bonn had momentum. With the score 31-18, Ulm got a Sean Finn basket and another Dan Fitzgerald three pulling within 36-23. Michael Schroeder subbed into the game and did a good job drawing fouls to get to the foul line. Unfortunately, the Ulm big man went 2 for 6 from the charity stripe. Never-the-less Ulm trimmed the margin to 11, 36-25 and when Jeff Gibbs scored in the lane Ulm was under ten at 36-27. A second Ulm timeout gave the team a chance to refocus and rally but it was Bonn who turned it up after the short pause. An 8-0 Bonn burst with 2 minutes remaining in the first half gave the hosts a 44-27 advantage before Dru Joyce scored to stop the run. Winsome Frazier sank one of two free throws and Jeff Gibbs finished scoring in the first half as Bonn took a 45-31 lead into the halftime lockerroom.
Ulm rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald spots up to drill a three point shot in Saturdays game at Bonn. Dan finished with 11 points off the Ulm bench.
At the half, Ulm faced a double-digit deficit for the first time of the new season. After starting every game to date with precision and execution, Ulm struggled early, fell behind and saw the game dictated by Bonn's tough-team defense. Ulm made only 7 of 19 shots in the paint in the first half and was limited to 36% from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Ulm suffered 9 turnovers and made only 5 of 11 free throws as their offense was not sharp. Meanwhile, Bonn hit 44% from the floor and 9 of 13 from the foul line to take the lead.
Ulm center Sean Finn meets a roadblock in Bonn's Ken Johnson. The Bonn post defense was outstanding on Saturday night.
As the second half started, Ulm was focused to work their way back into the game and a Romeo Travis left wing three pointer was a terrific way to start. But after Travis trimmed the deficit to 45-34, Bonn responded with six quick points from Ken Johnson, Brandon Bowman and Winsome Frazier to expand their advantage to 51-34. Dru Joyce fired back with a three but Bowman topped it with a three of his own before a Ken Johnson slam led to an Ulm timeout. Trailing 56-37, Ulm pulled out all stops searching for a combination of players and game plan to counter the hot-Bonn team. Sean Finn scored inside before back to back Jeff Gibbs baskets and two buckets from Dan Fitzgerald as Ulm fought to cut the lead. But Bonn's run continued and by the end of the third, Ulm was down 69-48.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs attacks the Bonn defense in transition. Jeff finished with a strong 15 point 11 rebound double double against a stiffling Bonn defense.
In the fourth, the Bonn bench stepped up their game. Moussa Diagne scored 8 straight points including back to back threes. Then it was Alex King taking his turn scoring 7 straight for Bonn including a three of his own. Finally, former Ulm guard Artur Kolodziejski scored 8 straight points of his own with back to back threes. The Bonn bench built the victory margin in the fourth with their teamwork and good shots. Meanwhile, in Ulm's fourth quarter, Dru Joyce sank a three and sent a beautiful lob to Sean Finn. Jeff Gibbs slammed one home for Ulm and Romeo Travis sank two free throws and final baskets from Finn, Joyce and Humphrey were not enough. At the final buzzer, ratiopharm Ulm could only shake their head at their disappointing 94-66 loss while giving credit to the terrific team defense from Bonn.
Ulm's Lee Humphrey hit two of four threes against the excellent Bonn pressure defense.
Ulm was limited to 38% shooting from the floor while allowing Bonn to hit 51%. Keeping consistent for the game, Ulm made 38% of their shots in the paint (17-44) and 38% from the foul line (8 for 21). Bonn outrebounded Ulm 42-36 and blocked 9 Ulm shots. Jeff Gibbs led the Ulm offense with a strong 15 point 11 rebound double double while Dru Joyce added 12 points 6 assists and Dan Fitzgerald 11 points in the loss. For Bonn, Brandon Bowman topscored with an excellent 23 point 9 rebound night. EJ Rowland added 12 points 5 assits, Moussa Diagne 11 points and Vincent Yarbrough 10 in the win.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther protects the basketball from former Ulm guard
While the loss was frustrating for the ratiopharm Ulm team, the outstanding team defense and excellent transition offense from Bonn were keys to the game. Bonn's smothering post defense and 9 blocked shots prevented Ulm from establishing their inside game for the first time of the season and Ulm's quick shots allowed several run-outs igniting the Bonn runs. Overall, Ulm's sloppy play and poor execution showed through in the loss. It was simply a bad day for Ulm against a great performance from Bonn. Coming off their recent 3 game in 5 day stretch, Ulm refused to use fatigue as an excuse and pointed to Bonn's intense defense and strong team production as central to the result.
ratiopharm Ulm was outplayed by Telekom Baskets Bonn Saturday night at Telekom Dome.
After the tough loss in Bonn, ratiopharm Ulm slips to 5-4 on the season and now looks to bounce back next weekend when they host the Koln 99ers Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
