TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM HAUNTED BY PHANTOMS!
ratiopharm Ulm held the game in their hands. Twice, Ulm led Braunschweig with opportunity to take control of the game. But both times Ulm's lead was an apparition. The Phantoms stalked ratiopharm Ulm until a late third quarter run turned momentum. Holding off Ulm's fourth quarter rally, Braunschweig put six players in double figures to earn a 90-86 victory at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday night. Unable to capitalize on plenty of chances, Ulm's missed opportunities came back to haunt them.
Ulm's EJ Gallup takes aim on a technical foul shot in the first half of Saturday nights game against Braunschweig. The sharpshooter and Bundesliga 3pt king totaled 20 points for Ulm.
click here for photo gallery from Ulm v Braunschweig game!
Saturday opened as a special evening for former Ulm guard Jonathan Levy whose family enjoyed Jono's return to Sportszentrum Kuhberg where he was warmly received by his former fans. Both teams entered the game hungry to snap losing streaks and wipe the sour taste from their mouth with a hardearned win.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs produced a 16 point 11 rebound double double against the Phantoms.
While both teams had a sour taste in their mouth from recent games, Ulm head coach Mike Taylor had no taste in his as he suffered from a hard-hitting flu Friday night and all day Saturday. Coaching with high-fever, chills and fatigue, the Ulm medical staff and support people did a first class job keeping their coach ready.
Ulm's Sean Finn came off the bench for quality minutes against Braunschweig.
Action was even early on as both Ulm and Braunschweig found the rhythm of the game. The Phantoms aggressive defense forced Ulm into several poor shots and turnovers early allowing Braunschweig runout transition opportunities. Guard Stephen Wright hit two threes and Jonathan Levy finished a play in the paint drawing a foul before hammering home a breakaway slam, a sight familiar to Sportszentrum Kuhberg fans from Jono's two seasons in Ulm. Braunschweig opened with an 11-6 lead and Ulm called for timeout. Ulm answered with a strong push to the end of the first quarter. For Ulm Jeff Gibbs scored inside and Konrad Wysocki made his presence felt with active cutting and a left wing three pointer. When the first quarter buzzer sounded, Ulm held a 24-23 lead. Despite holding the lead, Ulm had missed several opportunities to expand their advantage and the game stayed close at the quarter break.
Ulm's Konrad Wysocki draws a foul from former teammate Jonathan Levy in the second half of Saturday nights game.
Early in the second, with Braunschweig leading 27-26, Ulm burst to a 7-0 run forcing a Phantoms timeout. Leading 34-27 with five minutes remaining in the first half, Ulm was in a position to continue their run. But, rather than execute for quality shots, Ulm settled for one on one plays and forced shots helping the Phantoms hold off the surge and get back into the game. In fact Braunschweig turned the Ulm mistakes into a 12-4 run for their team and the guests re-took a 39-37 advantage late in the first half. Familiar with the Kuhberg rims, former Ulm guard Jonathan Levy buried two big three pointers to spark the surge. Ulm's EJ Gallup stepped up and buried a key three pointer and the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd enjoyed a 42-41 halftime lead.
Ulm's Dru Joyce faced hounding Braunschweig ballpressure all night Saturday.
The Ulm lead was not all the crowd enjoyed. At the half, an Ulm basketball fan used the intermission for a marriage proposal at their midcourt seats over the microphone for the entire crowd to hear (she said yes). Meanwhile, Ulm discussed how their poor shot selection helped start the excellent Braunschweig transition offense and aimed for better defensive intesity in the second half.
She Said Yes: The happy couple and halftime Marriage proposal at Sportszentrum Kuhberg
It was ratiopharm Ulm who started the third quarter strong. At the five minute mark Braunschweig called for timeout with Ulm holding a 54-47 lead. For the second time on the evening, Ulm had the game where they wanted it. And for the second time on the evening, poor shot selection came back to haunt them. Up 56-49 with five minutes remainig in the third, Ulm had the opportunity to build on their lead and take command of the game. However, in a two minute span, Ulm's cushion evaporated as Braunschweig evened the game at 56 with three minutes remaining in the third. 7 straight points from John Allen keyed the run for Braunschweig who capitalized on transition opportunities. With two minutes remaining in the third, Braunschweig momentum mounted. On the ropes, Ulm needed a spark. It came moments later when Ulm's Konrad Wysocki and Braunschweig's Anthony Coleman got entangled fighting for a rebound. The two tumbled to the ground with Konrad rolling over backward as tempers flared nearly escalating into a real fight. Coleman was disqualified and fouls were called. But the Phantoms run continued as Domonic Jones got late third points and they held a 68-63 lead going into the fourth.
Rookie Sebastian Betz gave Ulm a spark in Saturdays game with defensive intensity and a clutch 4th quarter three.
Now trailing, the Ulm team pressed offensively resulting in more empty possessions. Braunschweig capitalized and extended their lead to double digits early in the fourth. After big man Kyle Visser scored at the six minute mark, the Phantoms held a 77-65 lead. After a timeout, Ulm found their fire. In Ulm's favor, the foul count was now over 5 meaning Ulm was in the bonus for the fourth quarter with nearly five minutes to play. Despite trailing by double digits, attacking the basket and drawing fouls would send Ulm to the foul line to score with the clock stopped. Ulm went with a smaller lineup featuring Dru Joyce, EJ Gallup, Sebastian Betz, Konrad Wysocki and Jeff Gibbs in an attempt to create mismatches and draw fouls. The comeback attempt started with Konrad Wysocki free throws and a Sebastian Betz three. Defensive stops kept Ulm in the game. The Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd supported their team with fantastic noise every Phantoms possession. Ulm chipped away and reached striking distance. Then with 1:30 remaining and Ulm working an endline inbound, EJ Gallup cut to the ballside corner and buried a clutch three trimming the deficit to 85-83. Ulm had clawed their way back into the game!
Good friends Jonathan Levy and Jeff Gibbs share a laugh mid-court in Saturday's game.
Sebastian Betz tried to draw a charge and was called for a block sending Phantoms guard Stephen Wright to the foul line. He made one of two giving Braunschweig a tight 86-82 lead. Looking to score quick and extend the game, Konrad Wysocki drew a foul and got to the foul line for two. The Ulm energizer sank one of two pulling Ulm back within three 86-83. After a clutch defensive stop, Ulm worked the ball to Jeff Gibbs who powered his way to the basket. The physical Braunschweig defense challenged the Gibbs attempt. After a tremendous collision, Gibbs found himself on the floor and every Ulm fan in Sportszentrum Kuhberg on their feet in disbelief. Jeff thought he was fouled. Frustrated at the no-call, the Ulm All Star screamed at the official and slapped the floor earning an automatic technical at a critical juncture in the game. After the free throws, the Phantoms held an 89-83 lead. In desperation, Ulm's Konrad Wysocki came up big with a three pointer giving Ulm hope at 89-86. But time was running out. Ulm's defense came up big once again getting a tough defensive stop with help from the loud Kuhberg crowd. Dru Joyce's excellent ballpressure forced a backcourt by the Braunschweig offense giving Ulm possession on the sideline with 32 seconds to play. Using their final timeout, Ulm trailed 89-86 and had a chance. Executing their play, EJ Gallup got an open look but misfired and the rebound went to the Phantoms. Fouling immediately, Ulm sent Stephen Wright to the foul line where he iced the game making one of two. At the final buzzer, the missed opportunities to expand their lead, poor shot selection leading to low shooting percentage and 16 missed free throws came back to haunt Ulm in their 90-86 loss.
Ulm fan club welcomed back former guard Jonathan Levy with a sign and nice applause.
In the game, ratiopharm Ulm shot 35% from the floor and converted only 37% of their points in the paint. The hosts did outrebound the Phantoms 41-37 and got to the foul line to shoot 44 free throws, but Ulm made only 28 (63%). Meanwhile, Braunschweig shot 49% from the floor and drilled 6 of 13 from three 46%. Coming into the game, the Phantoms were the lowest rated three point shooting team in the Bundesliga at 28%. The Phantoms also converted 67% of their attempts in the paint and made 22 of 33 from the foul line (66%).
Ulm's Konrad Wysocki led the attack with 23 points and 16 rebounds!
At the halfway point of the Bundesliga season, ratiopharm Ulm sits at 9-8. Looking ahead to Friday nights German Cup Sweet 16 matchup against digibu baskets Paderborn, not only does Ulm look to advance in the Cup competition, they look to snap their three game losing streak and get revenge for Decembers 106-81 loss to Paderborn.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
