TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM OUTSHOT IN GIESSEN!
Sunday night at Sporthalle East in Giessen Germany, ratiopharm Ulm faced a 46er team with their backs against the wall. Hungry for a win to lift them out of the relegation zone, the team with a 41 year Bundesliga tradition came out firing. More exactly, the 46ers came out hitting. The hosts shot 59% from the floor and held off an fourth quarter rally as LTi Giessen 46ers topped ratiopharm Ulm 93-87 snapping their 7 game losing streak while handing Ulm a 7th straight loss. Ulm's Jeff Gibbs powered his way to a 19 point 14 rebound night in a fantastic performance for his team.
Ulm's defense allowed 59% shooting including this dunk from Gerrit Terdenge.
Entering Sunday's game, something had to give. Giessen brought a 7 game losing streak to the floor while Ulm's skid stood at six. More important, Giessen aimed for a 10th win to lift them out of the relegation zone leap-frogging TBB Trier. Clearly, alot was on the line. For Giessen, a team with 41 years Bundesliga tradition, the team would pull out all stops for a win. New additions of big man Bill Phillips and veteran point guard Danny Lewis along with the announcement of new main sponsor LTi, gave Giessen alot to play for. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm aimed to get back on track after several close losses. Going in, Ulm knew the game would be heated. But they had no idea how hot Giessen would get.
Foto:Mediashots Werbefotografie (Giessen)
Ulm's Kyle Bailey defends in Sundays game at Giessen.
From the opening tip, the hungry 46er team took control. Giessen ran to a 14-3 lead. Early on Ulm post players rimmed out several opportunities in the paint. For the first quarter, Ulm converted only 5 of 12 shots in the lane against the Giessen defense. Minutes later the hosts held an 18-8 advantage. Behind two EJ Gallup three pointers, Ulm responded with a run of their own and at the end of the first quarter, Sean Finn tipped in a basket before the buzzer to bring Ulm within 22-18. Sebastian Betz came off the Ulm bench with active cutting and sank 4 of 4 free throws. Finn was also strong in the first half scoring 7 points with 2 boards in 10 minutes.
Foto:Mediashots Werbefotografie (Giessen)
Playing with a big lineup, Giessen post players keyed the victory Sunday night over Ulm. Here Seamus Boxley moves to the basket against Ulm's Konrad Wysocki. Boxley finished with 18 points.
Both teams found a rhythm in the second quarter. Especially newly signed 46ers big man Bill Phillips. The soft shooting post man sank 3 of 5 threes and 9 of 11 shots in the first half to explode for 21 points. While the ball found Phillips and he made the shots, Ulm dribble containment and defensive rotations were not in top form. Giessen's aggressive defense limited Ulm to 41% from the floor in the first half. The 46ers outscored Ulm 24-20 in the second quarter and took a 46-38 lead into halftime.
At the half, Ulm's main emphasis focused on defensive work aiming to lower the 46er field goal percentage. Offensively, Ulm focused on improved finishes in the paint and more activity in the halfcourt.
As the third quarter opened, Ulm picked up their defensive effort. On the offensive end, action started fast with a strong post play from Jeff Gibbs and a wide open right wing three from EJ Gallup. Jeff Gibbs played with amazing determination. Making strong moves and finishing through challenging defenders, Gibbs took the Ulm attack on his back. The most impressive play was a powerful baseline drive going left where Jeff beat his man and dunked over a rotating 46er defender with such strength that he wobbled the basket stantion sending tremors through the shotclock. At the other end, Gerrit Terdenge scored inside and followed a miss with a two hand slam of his own. Giessen continued their hotshooting as Rouven Roussler banked in a pullup J from the left wing and newly signed guard Danny Lewis buried a right wing 3. But Ulm's hardwork and the inside presence of Gibbs sparked a comeback and when Dru Joyce buried a three, Ulm tied the score at 65 with seconds to play in the third. Obie Trotter cooly dribbled up the floor and organized a last possession for the 46ers. He drove baseline and in the right corner hit a tough jumper over a double team of Gibbs and Joyce to give the 46ers a 67-65 advantage heading into the fourth. The 27-21 third quarter was exactly what Ulm needed.
Foto:Mediashots Werbefotografie (Giessen)
Giessen veteran Gerrit Terdenge hits a jumpshot over Ulm's Jeff Gibbs in Sunday nights game.
Ulm's fourth quarter was a game of chase. Giessen extended their lead to 70-65. Later, the 46ers led 77-70. Ulm battled to gain ground. Trailing 82-75, Jeff Gibbs drew a foul in the lane earning two free throws. Giessen huddled in a timeout. Out of the pause, Gibbs sank the two free throws closing the gap to 82-77. On three of the next possessions, Ulm missed their chance. After a terrific defensive stand and Jeff Gibbs closeout that forced a Terdenge airball three, the ensuing possession resulted in a a Jeff Gibbs post touch on the right block. However, Gibbs passed the ball out of the post to EJ Gallup along the right sideline. With the shot clock ticking down, Gallup drove hard to the middle, spun and sliced down the lane. Trying to scoop the ball in at the rim, EJ was blocked and the 46ers darted to a fast break resulting in an Ulm foul. Seconds later, a quick Kyle Bailey three point attempt that to a run-out 46er dunk. In another empty possession, Ulm's Konrad Wysocki drove hard into a double team turning the ball over sparking another Giessen 2 on 1 easy basket. In each situation, better execution and team plays would lead to a better result. Although Giessen took advantage to position themselves for the win, Ulm continued their comeback as Joyce drove hard baseline drawing the defense before finding a wide open Bryan Lucas under the rim for a layin. Looking for quick scores and fouls, Ulm got to the foul line down the stretch to score with the clock stopped. Dru Joyce and EJ Gallup both sank two free throws. After an easy Terdenge layin, a lightning fast Ulm fast break featured Dru Joyce zipping a ball ahead pass to Konrad Wysocki on the left wing who immediately buried a three cutting the game to 4, 91-87. Two 46er free throws in the last seconds set the final margin for Giessen 93-87.
ratiopharm Ulm offense was led by Jeff Gibbs 19 points 14 rebounds followed by Konrad Wysocki with 14 points 6 boards, EJ Gallup with 13 points and Dru Joyce with 12 points 4 assists from the bench. Three post players paced 46er production led by Bill Phillips with 25 points 7 rebounds, Gerrit Terdenge with 20 points 4 boards and Seamus Boxley with 18 points 4 rebounds. The key stat in the game was ratiopharm Ulm's team defense allowing the 46ers to shoot 59% from the floor. Ulm's effort was apparant outrebounding Giessen 38-30 including an impressive 22 offensive boards. Ulm hit 42% from the floor and made 19 of 25 from the foul line (76%) and did a nice job taking care of the basketball with only 8 turnovers. Ulm's efforts brought them 19 more shot attempts than Giessen, but unforunately, Ulm was out shot.
After the loss, Ulm remains together and will get back to work for Saturday at home against Gottingen!
Enduring a series of losses, Ulm returns to the practice court Tuesday with an eye for winning Saturday at home against a hot Gottingen team. Defensive improvement and better play down the stretch will be key. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
