TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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70
PHANTOMS BEAT ULM!
ratiopharm Ulm was outscored 52-36 in the paint and allowed Braunschweig to shoot 65% from the floor as the Phantoms beat Ulm 92-70 Sunday evening at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig. A 6-0 Ulm run pulled them within five 35-30 with three minutes in the first half before a 9-0 burst from Braunschweig built a 48-34 halftime lead. A strong third quarter from the Phantoms broke the game open and Braunschweig earned an important home win for their playoff push. Ulm was led by Rocky Trice's 18 point 9 rebound 5 assist effort and 15 points 6 boards from Kevin Martin.
ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther defends Braunschwieg's Heiko Schaffartzik in a matchup of German All Star point guards.
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Ulm entered Sunday's game against Braunschweig at Volkswagonhalle with a positive energy after a hardworking practice week and a focus for a positive finish to the final few games of the 2009-2010 Beko Bundesliga season. After finishing fifth last season, ratiopharm Ulm will miss the playoff this year as the young team played an up and down season. While, Ulm evaluates the team for the future, Braunschweig was focused for a playoff push needing Sunday's game as they fight for 8th seed or higher in the Bundesliga standings.
ratiopharm Ulm's John Bryant challenges a Yassin Idbihi jump hook in the first half of Sunday's Beko Bundesliga game at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig.
ratiopharm Ulm enjoyed a terrific team road trip north to Braunscweig and prepared for a challenging rematch against the Phantoms on an excellent weekend for basketball. After edging the Phantoms at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm, the rematch Sunday at Volkswagonhalle featured two teams with offensive styles and fans anticipated an exciting fast paced game.
ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther and Robin Benzing defend Branuschweig's Brandon Thomas in the second half of Sunday's game at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig.
At tip off, Ulm's team faced immediate adversity in the games first few possessions. After Christian Burns rimmed out a driving layup attempt and Kevin Martin was stripped on a post move mid-lane, Ulm guard Rocky Trice took an elbow to the nose while defending a Phantoms 2 on 1 break. Although Ulm regained possession, Rocky Trice was lost for the first quarter as he subbed himself out with blood streaming from his nose. Robin Benzing entered the game and Ulm worked to establish their attack. Kevin Martin was active on the inside working hard on the offensive boards and finishing at the rim for Ulm's first basket. Robin Benzing followed with a pullup jumper from the right wing. But while Ulm's attack began to find a rhythm, the teams defense allowed easy opportunities for Braunschweig. With a game plan to establish the paint and post up both post and perimeter players, the Phantoms repeatedly attacked ulm on the block. After several inside scores, Kevin Hamilton and Brandon Thomas took their matchups one on one and created baskets for Braunschwieg. Finally, after successfully establishing the post and taking Ulm defenders one on one, the Phantoms put the complete offensive game together drilling three point shots. The Phantoms built a 14-8 lead as Ulm called a timeout with 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter. With Trice on the bench nursing his nose bleed, adversity struck Ulm once again as Coleman Collins checked into the game and injured his ankle on the first endline inbound play he was a part of. With the shot clock at 3 seconds, Ulm lobbed a pass to Collins who landed awkwardly and went down immediately. Collins attempted to play through, but was forced to the bench. Braunschweig's Kevin Hamilton finished the first ten minutes with 10 points 2 assists sparking the Phantoms strong start. Braunschweig hit 80% of their shots drilling 12 of 15 from the floor and at the end of one quarter, Ulm trailed 27-17.
ratiopharm Ulm's Austen Rowland head fakes a Phantoms defender Sunday evening at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig.
Quarter two, Braunschweig continued to control the game. Ulm's Austen Rowland split a wing ballscreen and delivered a perfect pick and roll pass to Kevin Martin who finished strong inside. Martin continued his strong first half on the offensive end tipping in a Christian Burns layup attempt. Rowland buried a left corner three. Ulm fought their way back into the game. With three minutes remaining in the second quarter, rookie forward Robin Benzing buried a pick and pop right wing three pulling Ulm closer 35-29. Ulm got a defensive stop and Rocky Trice was fouled in transition giving him two foul shots as Braunschweig called timeout. Ulm's run 6-0 put them in position to get back into the game and the team focused to finish the first half strong. Out of the timeout, Rocky converted one of two free throws pulling Ulm as close as they would come at 35-30. On the next Braunschwieg possession, Marcus Goree grabbed an offensive rebound and found Kevin Hamilton who drilled a tough pullup three. Ulm suffered a turnover on their next possession and Goree stepped up drilling an open left wing three. Ulm used their second timeout of the first half. Trailing by five with momentum, Ulm gave up back to back threes as the Phantoms reestablished a 41-30 lead. Braunschweig 9-0 run reversed the momentum and finished the first half strong for the hosts. Ulm's Kevin Martin hit a short baseline jump shot off an offensive rebound before the halftime buzzer to finish the first half scoring. The Phantoms held a 48-34 halftime lead.
Braunschweig's Marcus Goree finishes over ratiopharm Ulm's Christian Burns Sunday at Volkswagonhalle. The Phantoms outscored Ulm 52-36 in the paint keying their home win.
At the half, Ulm allowed Braunschweig 62% floor shooting and suffered 10 turnovers in the first twenty minutes. 16 first half points from the Phantoms Kevin Hamilton pushed Braunschweig to their 14 point halftime spread. Ulm outrebounded Braunschweig 17-13 but the Phantoms outscored Ulm 26-18 in the paint. Ulm's Kevin Martin finished the first half with 12 points 5 rebounds to lead the attack.
ratiopharm Ulm's Robin Benzing defends Braunschweig's Michael Hicks Sunday at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig.
As the second half opened, Ulm had their opportunity to get back into the game. But Braunschweig broke the game open with a strong start to the third quarter. The Phantoms pushed their lead to 19, 65-46 a the midpoint of the third. But Ulm responded with a 9-2 close to the quarter trimming the deficit to 67-54 at the end of three. Christian Burns buried back to back three point shots igniting the Ulm run.
Braunschweig's Jason Cain hits a mid-lane floater as ratiopharm Ulm's Christian Burns and Kevin Martin look on.
Huddling between quarters, Ulm focused to fuel their comeback with a strong start to the fourth. But once again, Braunschweig had the answers extending their advantage to 80-60 with five minutes to play. In the second half, Braunschweig outscored Ulm 26-18 in the paint and continued to shoot a high percentage against the soft Ulm defense. As the game clock ticked down, young German players Philip Noch from the Phantoms and Andi Wenzl from Ulm subbed in. Ulm's 16 year old forward, Andi Wenzl finished the games scoring with a two hand slam in transition picking up his first two Bundesliga points. At the final buzzer, Braunschweig fans celebrated an important 92-70 home win for the Phantoms playoff push.
As a team Ulm hit 45% from the floor making 6 of 16 three point attempts (38%) and 14 of 21 free throws (67%) while outrebounding Braunschweig 29-27. Ulm suffered 20 turnovers in the loss. Meanwhile, Braunschweig outscored Ulm 52-36 in the paint and sank a sizzling 65% from the field including 6 of 12 threes along with 14 of 19 from the foul line (74%).
Rocky Trice played through the elbow to the nose demonstrating tremendous toughness and heart in leading the Ulm attack with a near double double 18 points, 9 rebounds 5 assists while Kevin Martin added 15 points 6 boards and Christian Burns who had 14 points 3 rebounds in the loss. ratiopharm Ulm's Coleman Collins played only 2:39 injuring his ankle in the first quarter and will be evaluated by the Ulm medical staff Monday in Ulm. Kevin Hamilton led all scorers with 23 points 5 assists for the Phantoms while Yassin Idbihi added 18 points 7 boards, Brandon Thomas 16 points, Marcus Goree 11 points 7 rebounds and John Allen 10 for Braunschweig in the win.
ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to next Saturday's home game against Paderborn March 27th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm . Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
