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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

100 93 OT

ULM BATTLES BACK IN BREMERHAVEN!

ratiopharm Ulm fought back from behind to take a 100-93 overtime road win Sunday evening at Stadthalle in Bremerhaven. Ulm trailed 78-62 with five minutes to play before bursting to a 19-2 run and an 81-80 lead in the last minute of regulation. After Torrell Martin buried a big three pointer giving Bremerhaven an 85-82 lead, Ulm's Rocky Trice finished a clutch three point play that evened the score and sent the game to Overtime tied at 85. In the extra period, ratiopharm Ulm outscored the Eisbaren 15-8 in the exciting comeback win. Struggling through a slow start and trailing by double digit deficits three times, ratiopharm Ulm showed great heart in their hardfought road win. Robin Benzing led the attack with a career high 30 points 5 rebounds, John Bryant powered his way to a 21 point 18 rebound double double and Per Gunther finished with 20 points 6 assists in the comeback road win.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Per Gunther finishes at the rim during Sunday's exciting comeback road win over Bremerhaven!

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Playing their second game of the week in North west Germany, ratiopharm Ulm entered the traditional fishing town of Bremerhaven ready for a challenging matchup on the coast of the North Sea. After coming up short on their Wednesday road game in Oldenburg, ratiopharm Ulm was focused for Sunday's Holiday road trip north. Playing January 2nd, Ulm looked to tip off 2011 with a strong performance against a strong Eisbaren team.

Former ratiopharm Ulm center and current Bremerhaven big man Maksym Shtein goes to work on the block against Sean Sonderleiter Sunday in Bremerhaven.

Tipping off, ratiopharm Ulm got off to a fast start as Robin Benzing got the first bucket of the game. Sean Denison answered for the Eisbaren but two Per Gunther free throws and a Rocky Trice score gave Ulm an early 6-2 lead. But back to back three pointers from Andrew Drevo got Bremerhaven going and the Eisbaren ran to a 16-6 advantage. After a Torrell Martin transition score, ratiopharm Ulm used a timeout. Ulm's offense shot themselves in the foot with turnovers that triggered Bremerhaven fast breaks. Robin Benzing snapped the Bremerhaven run with a strong finish but former Ulm center Maksym Shtein finished first quarter scoring with one free throw for the Eisbaren. Bremerhaven held a 17-8 lead after one.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Per Gunther and Bremerhaven's Torrell Martin collide in the lane Sunday at Stadthalle in Bremerhaven.

As quarter two began, Ulm's turnover problems continued. Bremerhaven capitalized and built a 23-8 lead. Finally, Per Gunther got Ulm back on the board with a three point play before Coleman Collins finished strong for two. Ulm trailed 23-13. Andrew Drevo kept the Bremerhaven offense flowing before Coleman Collins sank two free throws for Ulm. A Maksym Shtein basket was answered by two Per Gunther free throws and the hosts held a firm 27-19 lead. Maksym Shtein and Per Gunther traded baskets before another Shtein score pushed Bremerhaven ahead 31-21. Ulm center John Bryant finished back to back baskets cutting the margin to 31-25 with four minutes to play in the first half, but a quick 7-0 surge from the Eisbaren returned their lead to 38-25. Per Gunther finished for two before Sean Sonderleiter and John Bryant added one free throw apiece. Ulm trailed 38-29 with under two minutes to go. Jermaine Thomas and Torrell Martin closed the first half with back to back baskets and Bremerhaven stood in command with a 42-29 lead.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Robin Benzing defends Bremerhaven point guard Jermaine Thomas Sunday night at Stadthalle in Bremerhaven.

At the half, Ulm had shot 35% including 0 for 8 from three and 7 of 10 from the foul line. Ulm outrebounded Bremerhaven 22-20 but 15 first half turnovers plagued Ulm's play. Bremerhaven hit 49% from the floor including 2 of 8 threes and 6 of 11 free throws. Despite shooting themselves in the foot with 15 turnovers in the first half, ratiopharm Ulm trailed by 13, 42-29. After an intense halftime lockerroom, Ulm returned to the floor aiming for improved execution and taking better care of the basketball.

Eisbaren Bremerhaven guard Torrell Martin slices to the hoop between Ulm defenders Rocky Trice and Travis Walton.

Focused to find a way back into the game, ratiopharm Ulm opened the second half determined to take care of the basketball. John Bryant finished a dive cut with a strong move for Ulm before Andrew Drevo hit a mid lane shot for Bremerhaven. Two John Bryant free throws pulled Ulm within 44-33. Donald Copeland and Phillipp Schwethelm got back to back baskets for Bremerhaven and pushed the lead to 48-33. ratiopharm Ulm's Robin Benzing buried his first three and Ulm big men Sean Sonderleiter and John Bryant followed with baskets. Ulm showed signs of life cutting the deficit to 48-40. An AND1 three point play by Sean Denison returned the gap to 10, but two John Bryant free throws and a Robin Benzing finish at the rim trimmed the margin to 51-44. Donald Copeland and John Bryant traded baskets before two Torrell Martin free throws gave Bremerhaven a 55-46 lead. Back to back Robin Benzing baskets pulled Ulm closer at 55-50 with two minutes remaining in the third. Denison sank two more foul shots before Robin Benzing finished a strong drive with an AND1 three point play. Ulm trailed 57-53 and momentum was building. A hard foul from Sean Sonderleiter was ruled as an unsportsmanlike foul giving the Eisbaren free throws plus possession with just over 1 minute in the third. Bremerhaven hit 3 of 4 from the foul line extending their advantage to 60-53. But ratiopharm Ulm finally found a rhythm and fought back into the game with a 8-2 close to the third quarter. Robin Benzing drilled a three from the right wing before Maksym Shtein and Sean Sonderleiter traded baskets in the lane. Finally in the closing seconds of the third, ratiopharm Ulm point guard Travis Walton made an excellent penetrate and pitch play finding captain Lee Humphrey spotting up in the left corner. Lee drilled the three giving Ulm energy at the end of the third. Bremerhaven's big lead had been cut to one, 62-61.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Robin Benzing challenges a Phillipp Schwethelm layup Sunday night in Bremerhaven.

Taking care of the basketball and hitting some shots, ratiopharm Ulm fought their way back into the game. But Bremerhaven started the fourth quarter strong and rolled to an 11-0 run in the first 3 minutes. After trailing by double digits and cutting the gap, the Bremerhaven run returned their lead to 73-61. An Ulm timeout helped the team regroup. After Bremerhaven topped their lead out at 78-62, ratiopharm Ulm exploded on a 12-0 scoring run as Robin Benzing scored 11 straight points for Ulm. Ulm trailed 78-74 with under two minutes to play. Bremerhaven's Donald Copeland sank two free throws but another Benzing three followed by two Per Gunther free throws and a John Bryant finish gave Ulm an 81-80 lead late in the game. Sean Denison hit a big shot for Bremerhaven reclaiming an 82-81 lead for Bremerhaven, but Per Gunther drew a foul and hit one of two from the foul line evening the game at 82. Bremerhaven used a timeout. Needing an important basket, the Eisbaren ran screens for their most efficient player Torrell Martin and the talented guard stepped up to bury a big right wing three. Ulm trailed 85-82 with 25 seconds left. Using a timeout, Ulm advanced the ball and organized their sideline inbound play. Executing well, Ulm's first open three point attempt rimmed out but John Bryant kept the play alive with a skillful tip. Racing down the lane, ratiopharm Ulm's Rocky Trice collected the loose ball and finished a layup through a Bremerhaven foul earning the right for a game tying free throw. Cooly, Rocky stepped up and sank the clutch free throw tying the score at 85. Ulm dug in for a big defensive stop and the game went to overtime!

ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins grabs a rebound over Bremerhaven post man Sean Denison in Sunday nights action.

In the overtime, ratiopharm Ulm had tremendous energy. After struggling through the first half with 15 turnovers and trailing by double digit deficits three times in the game, Ulm felt great about the opportunity in overtime. With momentum and new life, Rocky Trice and John Bryant opened the overtime scoring with back to back baskets giving Ulm an 89-85 lead. Phillipp Schwethelm sank a key jumpshot for Bremerhaven cutting the score to 89-87, but Robin Benzing got another big basket for Ulm. Two Maksym Shtein free throws kept Bremerhaven close, 91-89, but Per Gunther finished at the rim keeping Ulm ahead 93-89. Torrell Martin made one of two free throws trimming the Ulm advantage to 93-90, but Per Gunther made 3 of 4 from the foul line and Ulm registered back to back defensive stops breaking the game open. After Coleman Collins grabbed a rebound, drew a foul and sank two free throws, Ulm led 98-90 with seconds left. Torrell Martin buried a late three, but Travis Walton capped the exciting comeback with two free throws to reach the century mark. At the final buzzer ratiopharm Ulm could take pride in their hardfought 100-93 come from behind overtime road win in Bremerhaven.

ratiopharm Ulm was led by Robin Benzing's 30 point 5 rebounds as the talented forward sank 4 of 9 threes. Robin scored 26 points in the second half and overtime leading Ulm's offensive attack. John Bryant powered his way to an impressive 21 point 18 rebound double double while Per Gunther scored 20 points with 6 assists in the win. Rocky Trice contributed 7 points 4 rebounds 3 assists while Sean Sonderleiter added 7 points 6 rebounds and Coleman Collins had 7 points in the win. As a team, ratiopharm Ulm shot 47% from the floor making 6 of 23 threes (26%) and 26 of 32 (81%) from the foul line. Ulm outrebounded Bremerhaven 47-38 and after their turnover filled first half, Ulm finished with 20 turnovers for the game. Torrell Martin led Bremerhaven with 24 points 7 rebounds, Sean Denison had 20 points 8 boards and former Ulm post man Maksym Shtein finished with 13 points 5 boards in the loss. Bremerhaven hit 42% from the field including 6 of 26 threes (23%) and 23 of 30 free throws (77%).

ratiopharm Ulm sets their sights on the 12-4 Deutsche Bank Skyliners for a 4pm Thursday January 6th tipoff 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