TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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Ulm Tops Phantoms 85-74 in OT!
ratiopharm Ulm turned around a 10 point fourth quarter deficit by holding NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig to 4 points in the 4th quarter then controlled the game with a 17-6 burst in Overtime to earn an important 85-74 road win at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig Wednesday night. A team effort on both ends, point guard Austen Rowland sliced and diced the Braunschweig defense in ballscreens on his way to 11 points and 12 assists, Jonathan Levy topscored with 18 points including key baskets down the stretch and Jeff Gibbs powered his way to 16 points 14 boards in the win. While all these performances were key to success, the feel-good story of the night was Konrad Wysocki who celebrated his 24th birthday with big baskets in OT on his way to 16 points and 9 rebounds. The win evened Ulm's Bundesliga record at 13-13 and vaulted them ahead of several teams in the league standings.
ratiopharm Ulm evened their record with an exciting 74-85 overtime win over NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig at Volkswagon Arena in Braunschweig!
click here for complete Ulm v Braunschweig Box Score
click here for Ulm @ Braunschweig Photo Gallery
The mid-week road trip to north-central Germany and the city of Braunschweig with its 300,000 inhabitants went like clockwork according to plan. Both teams knew the stakes --- for ratiopharm Ulm, the game against Braunschweig was a chance for revenge from their disappointing 83-80 home loss back in November against the Phantoms. With both teams locked in the logjam of Bundesliga standings, a win for Ulm would vault the team to playoff position at spot 8 while a loss would drop them all the way down to 14. Starting the game with these circumstances, Wednesdays meeting between Ulm and Braunchweig was a critical game for both teams.
Jeff Gibbs was a force in the second half and OT with 14 points and 14 boards!
From the opening tip, the Phantoms jumped out to a strong start. Power forward Greg Morgan slammed home the first points of the game and C Milko Bjelica finished a strong post move inside before Ulm's Bryan Lucas scored on a stickback to open scoring for ratiopharm Ulm. Morgan struck again as Braunschweig overpowered the Ulm D. Emeka Erege and Jonathan Levy continued the scoring for Ulm as Levy sank 4 straight free throws. But three pointers from Tory Walker and Awvee Storey helped Braunschweig maintain their early momentum. Tied 14-14, Jeff Gibbs and Austen Rowland converted strong baskets and Ulm jumped to a 19-16 lead. But it was Braunschweig's 9-2 finish to the first quarter that gave the home team the advantage 25-21 at the end of the first quarter of play. Bjelica scored on a strong post play and forward Vladimir Tica sank 3 of 4 threes and scored on a slip to the rim along the baseline before Vladimir Subotic drilled a pullup J in the Phantoms run. A key moment in the game came with just over one minute remaining in the first quarter. Moments after picking up a first foul on post defense, an Ulm missed blockout assignment at the foul line allowed a Braunschweig offensive rebound. Seconds later Gibbs was hit with his second foul in the lane. Along with C Maksym Shtein, Gibbs' foul problems impacted the Ulm rotation.
Battling back, ratiopharm Ulm opened the second quarter strong as Bryan Lucas and Austen Rowland finished plays at the rim to tie the game at 25. Braunschweig back up PG Ashanti Cook scored the games next 5 points before another Lucas basket. Phantoms G Awvee Storey scored on several tough shots to build the Braunschweig lead. Leading 37-33, Storey sank a three pushing the home team lead to 7 at 40-33. Finishing the half, Storey and Ulm captain Emeka Erege exchanged scores and the Phantoms maintained a solid 42-35 lead at the break. Statistically, Ulm had shot 51% from the floor but was 0 for 6 from beyond the arc and only 3 for 8 from the foul line in the first half. Braunschweig's physical front line outrebounded Ulm 19-13 at the half. Most important, the Phantoms shot 53% from the floor and made 4 of 11 threes in the first 20 minutes. For Ulm, several minor defensive adjustments and a heavy emphasis on blocking out remained a key to second half success.
ratiopharm Ulm's PG Austen Rowland was in top form scoring 11 points with 12 assists in the win.
Unfortunately, Ulm's third quarter made little in-road. Jonathan Levy scored the second half's first basket with a transition finish and Jeff Gibbs made immediate impact on the game with strong defensive plays and a strong finish in the lane. Baskets from Lucas and Konrad Wysocki cut the deficit to three, 46-43. But two Greg Morgan free throws and a tough Tory Walker one on one pull up J rebuilt the Braunschweig lead to 51-43 forcing an Ulm timeout. Back to back Bryan Lucas baskets pull Ulm close once again at 51-47. But a Vladimir Tica three point play extended the advantage to 54-47. Jeff Gibbs went to work for two baskets around a Milko Bkelica inside score and the Phantoms led 56-51. Austen Rowland set up Maksym Shtein and Ulm cut the lead to 56-53 but a three pointer and one free throw from Awvee Storey seemed to snuff out the Ulm rally. In the final minute of play, Gibbs converted one free throw for Ulm but Tica scored inside and a Shtein turnover in the quarters final possession gave Braunschweig PG Gregory Davis a runout layup just before the buzzer. Frustrated and all over the place, the Ulm team came to the bench between quarters trailing by 10, 64-54.
Settling down during the break, Ulm refocused on the final ten minutes emphasizing defensive improvement and capitalizing on opportunity. With starters back on the floor, Jeff Gibbs and Austen Rowland keyed a critical run helping Ulm cut into the deficit once again. Back to back Gibbs buckets started the 4th quarter scoring before Rowland FINALLY hit Ulm's first three of the game. Before Braunschweig could score, Ulm cut the lead to 64-61. In the fourth quarter and down the stretch, Ulm PG Austen Rowland asserted himself with his playmaking and penetration off ballscreens --- his efforts were a huge factor in the teams offensive success in the final scenes. Strong defense and empty possessions filled the next minutes of play. Ashanti Cook snaked his way to a crafty finish in the lane giving the Phantoms a momentum-building 66-61. Jonathan Levy converted a transition layup slicing the lead to 66-63 before Awvee Storey scored for the Phantoms. It would be Braunschweig's last basket of regulation. Active cutting got Konrad Wysocki to the foul line where he converted one of two pulling Ulm to within 4, 68-64. Outstanding defensive teamwork forced toughshots and turnovers and Jonathan Levy stepped up to add another strong score. Down two, 68-66, Awvee Storey clanked two free throws and Levy scored on a strong post move on the left block to tie the game at 68 with just over one minute in regulation. As seconds ticked down in the game, Ulm's Gibbs and Rowland forced a turnover at the top of the key and started an Ulm fastbreak. Clever passing freed Levy to attack the rim and Braunschweig G Vujadin Subotic was forced to foul Jono with seven seconds to play. Braunschweig head coach Emir Mutapcic called timeout to "Ice" the shooter Levy. Ulm set their strategy. With two fouls to give, the team needed one make from Levy and planned a tactical foul after burning some seconds of play. Out of the timeout, Levy stepped to the line with opportunity for the win. Ulm players and fans remembered back to Jono's clutch foul shots in the key Jena win last season --- the team had supreme confidence in their star guard. Unfortunately, the first one rattled out. Braunschweig fans went crazy. Jono's second attempt was also too strong and Braunschweig quickly corralled the rebound for a last second attempt. Intelligently and unselfishly, with 1.9 seconds left Ulm C Bryan Lucas fouled the dribbler as planned fouling out in the process. The sideline inbound pass was deflected by Konrad Wysocki and Braunschweig's shot was short. At the final buzzer, Ulm and Braunschweig were even 68-68.
Konrad Wysocki grabs a rebound in ratiopharm Ulm's win against Braunschweig Wednesday night. Wysocki celebrated his birthday with several big overtime baskets and a solid 16 point 9 rebound performance.
In the huddle after regulation, ratiopharm Ulm understood what was at stake. Determination to be 8th overcame the team. Sparked by Birthday boy Konrad Wysocki, Ulm players gave fantastic effort in the OT. After Tory Walker scored the opening basket of the extra session on a right wing pull up J, Ulm exploded ahead with strong defense and big baskets. Gibbs sank two free throws to tie the game at 70 and Wysocki sank a critical right wing three to take Ulm's first lead since the first quarter. Emeka Erege found himself unguarded in transition and was fouled as a last resort by Phantom defenders. Infurtiated by the lack of concentration, Coach Mutapcic called timeout to refocus his Phantoms. The Ulm captain Erege made one of two free throws and Ulm led 74-70 at the midway mark of overtime. Ashanti Cook sank two free throws to cut the Ulm lead to two 74-72. Down the stretch of overtime, Konrad Wysocki scored 6 points and Jeff Gibbs added a big basket and several key offensive rebounds as ratiopharm Ulm took the air out of the ball in the closing minutes for the win. With time running down, Wysocki capped his Birthday with a left corner buzzer beater in front of the Braunschweig bench sending the Ulm bench into celebration for both the big win and the Birthday!
Emeka Erege and his teammates held the Phantoms to 4 points in the 4th quarter in reversing a ten point deficit and force overtime.
Emerging from Braunschweig with the important win was one thing, but the manner in which ratiopharm Ulm earned it was something totally different. Trailing by ten after three, making 10 of 26 free throws, sinking only 3 of 14 threes, overcoming mistakes and frustration, the Ulm team demonstrated outstanding determination and heart to take the critical two points. As a result, Ulm hurdles over several teams in the Bundesliga standings and evens their record at 13-13, the first time the team is .500 since 3-3 early in October.
Ulm point guard Austen Rowland was outstanding on the evening scoring 11 points and distributing a league-wide Bundesliga season-best 12 assists. Jonathan Levy led Ulm scoring with 18 points including several big baskets in the 4th quarter comeback. Jeff Gibbs overcame 2 points and foul trouble in the first half to produce an amazing 16 point 14 rebound performance. Birthday boy Konrad Wysocki scored 16 points with 9 rebounds in an energizing effort, his Birthday present to his teammates. Bryan Lucas added 14 points 6 boards in a solid, unselfish game in the lane. Ulm shot 53% from the floor and outrebounded Braunschweig 41-36. As a team ratiopharm Ulm dished out 16 assists with only 11 turnovers mostly due to Rowlands sharpness. Possibly the most impressive stat is the fourth quarter defensive performance from the Ulm team holding Braunschweig to 4 total points as Ulm outscored the Phantoms 14-4 in the fourth and then 17-6 in OT. Certainly, for Konrad Wysocki and the entire Ulm team, Wednesday night was a good reason to celebrate.
Ulm's Bryan Lucas was solid in the lane scoring 14 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Perhaps his biggest play was the unselfish foul late game to thwart a Braunschweig last second shot.
ratiopharm Ulm immediately refocuses for Saturdays challenging home game against powerful Telekom Bonn at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
