TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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79
MISSED SHOT!
ratiopharm Ulm started fast with an 11-2 explosion sparked by 3 EJ Gallup three pointers in the opening minutes, but it was BG74 Gottingen who finished strong in Saturdays game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Ulm's attack sputtered to 9 for 38 second half shooting and the Violets hit big shots (4 of 7 from three in the fourth quarter) to earn a hardfought 89-79 win over ratiopharm Ulm. An 8th straight loss, ratiopharm Ulm finished shooting a season low 35% from the floor and spoiled an intense team defensive effort with their inaccuarcy. Saturdays home loss to Gottingen was alot like the teams jumpshot --- a missed shot at a win.
ratiopharm Ulm's EJ Gallup led the attack burying five first half threes and finishing with 21 points.
With strong support from the Ulm fans, who made Saturdays game special by wearing orange and black to the game and the new marketing campaign started by the Ulm management, Sportszentrum Kuhberg was ready for action. After a month of quality play, center Sean Finn was penciled into the starting five and Ulm focused on a fast start. They got just that. Kyle Bailey worked off a left wing ballscreen and slipped a perfect pass to a cutting Sean Finn who hammered home a two hand slam. Moments later, EJ Gallup buried his first three of the game. After another defensive stop, the ball found EJ again on ballreverseal and he buried a second three. Moments later as Konrad Wysocki ripped down an offensive rebound, he fired a cross court skip pass to an open Gallup deep at the top of the key. From distance, Gallup made it 3 for 3 from three and gave Ulm an 11-2 lead! The Sportszentrum Kuhberg fans were immediately into the game. Gottingen battled back and trimmed the deficit to two as Ulm took a 21-19 lead into the quarter break.
Ulm's Bryan Lucas finishes a finger roll in transition in the first half of Saturdays game against Gottingen. Bryan sparked Ulm off the bench with 16 points 6 boards.
Ulm's attack continued with Bryan Lucas providing a spark with 8 points 3 rebounds coming off the bench. Emeka Erege made a fantastic shotblock protecting the Ulm basket on defense. A ballahead pass to Konrad Wysocki which turned into a fast break basket was followed by a breakaway Byran Lucas bucket and Ulm continued their roll. Gallup buried two more first half threes but Ulm missed several opportunities to lengthen their lead in the second quarter leaving shots unfinished and turning the basketball over. Willie Jenkins tallied 9 first half points for the guests and Gottingen's balanced attack put Darren Brooks, Jeb Ivey, Marco Grimaldi and Jason Boone in the books with 6. Against the aggressive Gottingen defense, Ulm moved the ball well and got several open looks from three. Unfortunately, EJ Gallup was the only Ulmer to capitalize sinking 5 of 7 threes while the rest of the team went 0 for 7. Taking a 43-40 lead into the halftime lockerroom, ratiopharm Ulm started fast and found their rhythm early.
Ulm PG Dru Joyce digs in to defend Gottingen's Marco Grimaldi Saturday night. Dru totaled 7 points and 3 assists in the game.
At the half, Ulm was pleased with their defensive effort and work on the boards limiting the Violets to 44% shooting and winning the rebound battle 25-14. Ulm aimed for better shooting percentage on offense with strong finishes in the paint and knocking down open jumpers. They also focused on taking better care of the basketball after suffering 9 turnovers in the first twenty minutes. While Gallup was on fire with a game best 15 points at the half, Ulm's Jeff Gibbs attempted only 2 shots in the first half one being a three point attempt. Holding Gibbs scoreless was a credit to the tough Gottingen defense, but it also gave Ulm opportunity to impact the game by working the All Star power forward better into the attack.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs drives baseline Saturday against Gottingen. The Ulm All Star finished with 8 points and 12 rebounds against a hounding Violet defense.
Like a strong start to the game, Ulm aimed for a fast start to the second half. But it would be Gottingen who got the better of the play in the third quarter. Several Ulm empty possessions put momentum in the hands of Gottingen. After an Ulm miss, Jeb Ivey buried a transition pull up three to tie the score. After an Ulm turnover, the Violets Willie Jenkins scored to give Gottingen the lead. Officials let both teams play and the action became extremely physical in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Ulm captain Emeka Erege defends Gottingen's Robert Dill.
Jeff Gibbs powered his way to an offensive rebound and a strong stick back for a bucket. Through the physical contact in the lane, Bryan Lucas grabbed his own offensive rebound and swooped under the basket for a layin. But while Ulm worked extremely hard for their points, Gottingen edged ahead. Excellent work on the offensive glass helped the Violets build their lead and several big baskets from Jeb Ivey and Jason Boone pushed the visitors ahead.
Ulm forward Konrad Wysocki looks to score against Gottingen defenders Robert Dill (left) and Willie Jenkins.
Trailing 60-51, Dru Joyce dribbled right off a ball screen at the top of the key. Surveying the floor, he spotted an open Bryan Lucas on the left wing and zipped him a crisp pass. The Ulm post man stepped into his three and sank a momentum building three ball. After a defensive stop, Ulm ran the same play and Joyce maneuvered off the top ballscreen this time cutting into the lane. Drawing Emeka Erege's defender, Dru slipped a pass to the Ulm captain on the right wing and Erege immediately buried a back to back three cutting the Gottingen lead to three 60-57. Ulm's defense came up big again forcing another stop in the final seconds of the third quarter and Kyle Bailey slowed the attack to make sure Ulm took the last shot. His pull up three from the right wing bounced off the front of the rim at the buzzer and Ulm huddled between quarters down three points.
Ulm PG Kyle Bailey finished with 7 points 3 assists against his former team from Gottingen.
As Ulm opened the fourth quarter, the team continued to defend. On the offensive end, the team worked to establish the post, draw double teams and find open men on the back side. Unfortunately, open shots did not find the basket. With the game tight, Dru Joyce took a perfect penetrate and pitch pass for an open left wing three. The shot rimmed off and Gottingen grabbed the rebound. Racing back the opposite direction, the Violets fast break found hardworking backup guard Marco Grimaldi open on the wing. He buried the three. On the next possession, Jason Boone outbattled two Ulm defenders on the boards and scored on an AND1 stickback. An Ulm timeout attempted to re-direct the action. Out of the timeout, Joyce found Konrad Wysocki for an open right wing three and Ulm cut the lead.
Later in the fourth, Ulm's defense continued to create opportunities as Kyle Bailey tracked down a loose ball and dashed into the open floor starting a fast break. But KB's lob pass sailed high and Jeff Gibbs was unable to finish. Gottingen turned the loose ball into a fast break opportunity the other way. On another possession, EJ Gallup recovered a loose ball in the right corner after Konrad Wysocki tipped a post entry pass away. EJ pushed the ball up the right sideline and attacked the basket. Cut off by several Gottingen defenders, EJ attempted to pass to a teammate to set up the offense. Unfortunately for Ulm, the ball sailed into the backcourt. Making matters worse, hustling for the loose ball, Ulm's Jeff Gibbs collided with a Gottingen player and was whistled for an intentional foul. With Gottingen making both free throws and Ben Jacobsen burying a big right wing three, the Violets lead swelled to 13 points with under three minutes to play. Ten of Jacobsen's 14 points came in the fourth quarter helping the Violets down the stretch.
With the head to head count in mind, Ulm's attack focused on trimming the margin to under 9. With free throws from EJ Gallup and Dru Joyce the margin was 86-77 with almost 30 seconds remaining. Gottingen looked to win by over 9 and worked for a good shot. Dru Joyce came up with the ball and raced up the right side of the floor to score with 2.1 seconds to play. Ulm had cut the deficit to 7, 86-79. But Gottingen was not done. Passing the ball into Ben Jacobsen in the corner, the new Violet guard took three dribbles to halfcourt and launched a shot that swished through to beat the buzzer. The shot set the final score at 89-79 for Gottingen.
EJ Gallup led Ulm with 21 points including 5 three pointers and Bryan Lucas added 16 points 6 rebounds to the Ulm effort. Konrad Wysocki finished with 12 points 9 boards and Jeff Gibbs added 8 points and a team best 12 rebounds. Willie Jenkins led Gottingen with 16 points while Ben Jacobsen and Jason Boone added 14 points apiece. Jeb Ivey and Marco Grimaldi totaled 13 each. Ulm outrebounded Gottingen 45-41 and both teams finished with 10 assist 13 turnovers. Ulm hit 21 of 29 from the foul line (72%) while Gottingen made 22 of 27 (81%). After a strong start, Ulms 9 for 38 second half shooting including 3 for 15 from three let many opportunities slip away. Ulm's 35% from the floor is a new season low for shooting percentage since the opener at 37% in Braunschweig October 6th, 2007. Saturday, the missed shots added up to Ulm missing their shot at their 10th win.
ratiopharm Ulm returns to action Wednesday with a road game against German Champion brose Baskets Bamberg. Ulm will visit Jako Arena for a 7:30pm tip. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
