TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
75 
69
ULM FALLS TO 46ERS!
Like the scary stories from Friday the 13th, ratiopharm Ulm's turnovers and mistakes came back to haunt them late in Friday nights game at Giessen. Inspired by halftime news of Nurnberg's loss and powered by a 17-4 third quarter run, the Giessen 46ers cemented their stay in the Bundesliga for a 41st season with Friday nights 75-69 victory over ratiopharm Ulm. Even though the game was decided late, iced by a clutch Brian Snider last-minute left wing three and two James Head free throws, ratiopharm Ulm's missed opportunities from earlier in the game eventually left the team empty handed at the end --- fitting storyline for a Friday the 13th. Now 15-15, ratiopharm Ulm must refocus fast for Sunday afternoon's 4pm tipoff against the powerful Eisbaren Bremerhaven.
Mediashots Werbefotografie
Ulm PG Austen Rowland continued his strong play with a team best 18 point 5 assist performance in Friday's loss at Giessen.
After last Saturday's 101-83 home win over Karlsruhe vaulted ratiopharm Ulm up to 7th in the Bundesliga standings, excitement for the stretch run and anticipation for the double game day weekend filled the city of Ulm. Winners of 3 out of their last 4, Ulm also won in Giessen earlier this season knocking the 46ers out of the German Cup 79-74 on Febuary 14th. Certainly, Ulm boarded the team bus with confidence heading north toward Sporthalle Giessen East.
While Ulm aimed to take another step forward in their surprising playoff push, Giessen's goal was to make the "Klassenerhalt" official. Either a Nurnberg loss or a 46er win would keep the original Bundesliga organization in the Bundesliga for a 41st season. Both teams tipped off with much to play for. Opening action started fast with Austen Rowland slicing through the teeth of the Giessen D for a smooth finish in the lane. At the other end, ball reversal found veteran Gerrit Terdenge atop the key for a wide open three. Teams exchanged baskets and uptempo action in the gym was as hot and as beautiful as the sunny German weather outside. Beautiful transition basketball from Ulm resulted in easy baskets. Rowland zipped a ballahead pass to Gibbs who dropped off a dime to a streaking Emeka Erege for a fast break two. Moments later, an Erege steal led to a two on one which Jonathan Levy converted off the glass. Levy followed his fast break bucket with a slicing three point play down the lane. Giessen Native son, Ulm's Konrad Wysocki, playing in front of family and friends, checked in and finished a strong layup along the baseline. Clearly, Ulm had their rhythm and the game came easy.
But the score remained close. Playing their best basketball of the season, Giessen had won two straight games and had earned their position on the brink of holding the Bundesliga. Post players Terdenge and Maras paced early 46er production with strong rebounding and post moves in the lane. While Ulm edged ahead, cracks began to surface in their foundation. Turnovers and missed layups resulted in missed opportunites. Ulm defense recorded stops and forced turnovers, but somewhere along their fast break , there was a break. Rather than build a big lead, Ulm mistakes helped Giessen stick around. For example, fouling a Giessen three point shooter and allowing a buzzer beating bucket at the end of quarter erased ratiopharm Ulm's lead and the two teams finished the first quarter deadlocked at 22. Scanning the stat sheet, Ulm shot themselves in the foot with 8 turnovers in the first quarter (eventually 13 in the first half).
More of the same end to end, open court, mistake filled action filled the second quarter. Foul trouble set in with Ulm and Maksym Shtein, Florian Mobius and EJ Gallup entered the action. Unfortunately, despite strong effort, none could provide the spark off the bench this night. After being warned a trip earlier, Jeff Gibbs was hit with a technical foul and Giessen gained momentum. Gibbs' former teammate with Ehingen, current 46er G Marco Buljevic gave his team strong minutes in the second quarter with a nice And1 running three point play in the lane and intelligent perimeter play. Despite their semi-self-destruction, ratiopharm Ulm found a way to take a lead into the halftime lockerroom as Jonathan Levy sank two free throws to give the guests a 39-37 advantage.
But in the mid-game break, things changed. North in Braunschweig at Volkswagonhalle, the Phantoms edged SellbyTel baskets Nurnberg 85-84 officially relegating Nurnberg back to the 2.Bundesliga. With both Karlsruhe and Nurnberg going down, Giessen had the security of safety and the news set a fire under the 46ers. While Ulm talked about being the team to make the run, the 46ers were ready to run away with things. Out of the box, Jeff Gibbs's front rim finished rimmed out on Ulm's first possession. Meanwhile, a determined Gerrit Terdenge finished in the lane. After an Austen Rowland three, Terdenge beat Gibbs in transition for an And1 three point play. Several poor shots and turnovers gave Giessen fast break chances which they capitalized. Ulm's two point halftime lead turned into a 46-42 46er advantage when Ulm tried to right the ship with their first timeout. Unfortunately, the game which came so easy to Ulm early suddenly became hard. A shot block on a Jonathan Levy drive led to a runout Obie Trotter layup. On the ensuing inbound pass, Trotter tipped the pass and Austen Rowland could not recover the bounding basketball. Picking up the rolling rock, Giessen zipped an immediate ball ahead and in seconds like lightning, ball reversal found a wide open Rouven Roussler who found the bottom of the net from three. Timeout, Ulm trailing 53-44. Giessen's 17-4 third quarter run was the first major shift in the game. Reeling, ratiopharm Ulm steadied the ship and climbed back to within 63-56 at the end of three.
15 road games into the 2006-2007 season, ratiopharm Ulm had been there before. The team huddled between quarters and unified their efforts. Ulm had trailed by ten in the first half in the German Cup game at Giessen in Febuary and were down ten heading into the fourth quarter in the Braunschweig overtime road win several weeks ago. Reminding the team of these facts, Ulm returned to the floor and went to work. Team defense inspired by captain Emeka Erege, who momentarily was forced from the game with a discloated finger, helped Ulm cut the lead. Austen Rowland's playmaking and finishing resulted in several key baskets and key figures Jeff Gibbs and Jonathan Levy surfaced with big plays. Ulm powered back with an 11-4 fourth quarter run. Strong defensive stops forced turnovers and good defensive rebounding gave Ulm offensive opportunites. Trailing 67-63, Rowland found Levy slicing into the lane where the powerful Ulm G finished a nice postup move bringing Ulm to within one basket. After an errand 46er pass, Ulm executed looking for the tie. With just over 4 minutes to play, Rowland weaved off a ball screen dribbling sideline and along the baseline. With the shot clock running down, it was Ulm captain Emeka Erege who cleverly made a basket cut following Rowland's drive. The talented passer, Rowland found Erege all alone with a beautiful no-look assist. Erege dropped in the layup at the front of the rim and the game was tied at 67.
As Giessen regrouped in a timeout, ratiopharm Ulm discussed their game plan for the final 4 minutes. Out of the timeout, two consecutive defensive stops gave Ulm two consecutive possessions to take the lead. Unfortunately, both times, the team came up empty. First, tough Giessen defense forced a late clock scramble which resulted in a hurried Bryan Lucas three point attempt. Then, still tied 67-67, Ulm players had three opportunities to finish plays in the paint but came up empty. With the game in the balance every possession, Giessen went up one with under one minute to play. Switching to their zone defense, the 46ers changed up on Ulm. Missing a left corner three, Erege grabbed the rebound and had an in-lane chance to finish. Strong Giessen defense blocked the shot and gave the 46ers possession with 40 seconds to play. Needing one stop, down one 70-69, Ulm dug in for a final defensive stand. Giessen executed their "3down" action with shuffle cutting action. Off reversal, the ball went into the post to former German National team C Robert Maras. Ulm defenders reacted exactly as the game plan asked, rotating with strong help. The experienced Maras recognized the double team and zipped a cross court pass to the open man. Brian Snider took the pass and buried a BIG left wing three. Giessen fans errupted as their team took a 73-69 cushion as Ulm took a timeout. Ulm's Jonathan Levy and Konrad Wysocki missed three point looks and Giessen's James Head grabbed the key rebound. Going for steals and fouling, Ulm sent Head to the line and he cooly sank two of two which sent Ulm home with a 75-69 road loss. While the game was decided down the stretch, Ulm could painfully look back on missed opportunities from earlier action.
Mediashots Werbefotografie
Ulm's Jonathan Levy defends Giessen's Brian Snider
For ratiopharm Ulm, the turnovers and missed opportunities came back to haunt them in the end. A fitting game line for a Friday the 13th. Point guard Austen Rowland spearheaded Ulm's attack scoring a team best 18 points with 5 assists in the loss while power forward Jeff Gibbs added 12 points and 7 rebounds. Bryan Lucas was also solid scoring 10 points with 6 boards for Ulm. As a team, Ulm shot 40% from the floor and 18-24 (75%) from the foul line. Key stats included Ulm's 3 for 17 three point shooting (13%) and 18 turnovers. Meanwhile, Gerrit Terdenge led Giessen with 16 points and Obie Trotter added 14 for the 46ers. Brian Snider sank big baskets on his way to an important 11 and Rouven Roussler chipped in 10. C Robert Maras produced 9 points 10 boards. With the win, the 46ers improved to 10-20. Ulm slipped to 15-15. As the Bundesliga continues with their exciting stretch run, Ulm returns to action Sunday afternoon hosting Eisbaren Bremerhaven at Sportszentrum Kuhberg for a 4pm tip. In the game, Ulm aims for their 9th straight home win.
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GO ULM!
MIKE T
