TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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4th Quarter Surge Pushes Koln past Ulm!
ratiopharm Ulm battled the Koln 99ers nose to nose through three quarters before a 12-2 start to the fourth quarter gave the hosts a 78-67 Bundesliga victory Thursday night in German Holiday Hoops at the Rheinenergie Dome in Koln. The 99ers team defense stymied Ulm's attack while Koln's veterans Aleskandar Nadjfeji and Immanuel McElroy produced big points down the stretch. Ulm led by one 23-22 after one, trailed by one at half 39-38 and trailed by one 56-55 after three in the prime time BBL.TV Thursday game. Unfortunately for Ulm, the fourth quarter run proved to be the pivotal as Koln made their move to take command.
Ulm's rookie point guard Dru Joyce drives past Koln's Derek Raivio in Thursday nights game.
With momentum from last weekends upset win over ALBA Berlin and a strong following of Ulm fans making the midweek trip in support, ratiopharm Ulm took the Rheinenergie Dome floor ready to meet the challenge of the injury-plagued slow-starting Koln team. Making the game extra special, BBL.TV covered the game live online which is why the game was moved to the special Thursday night tipoff. For the occassion, ratiopharm Ulm made it "Schnurbart Tag" (German for Moustache Day) and for fun everyone involved brought their best 'stache to the game.
Ulm power forward Jeff Gibbs drives baseline against 7'3 C Nedzad Sinanovic in Thursdays game. Gibbs faced constant double teams in the game and produced 13 points with 7 boards.
Tipping off the game, Ulm started strong. Despite surrendering a transition three to Marko Keselj for the games first points, Bryan Lucas answered with a smooth post finish off an EJ Gallup backscreen. Immanuel McElroy finished a fast break with a transition layup for Koln before Konrad Wysocki took a Lucas pass for a basket then drilled a trail spot three at the top of the key giving Ulm a 7-5 lead. Jeff Gibbs finished a strong post move off and endline inbound play extending Ulm to 9-5. But back to back IMAC buckets tied the score and a second Keselj three regained the Koln lead at 12-9. Ulm broke to a 10-0 run strengthened by four points apiece from Wysocki and Kyle Bailey along with another Lucas score. Up 19-12, Ulm's changing defenses sparked the run leading to transition scores. 7'3 Nedzad Sinanovic snapped the streak with an inside finish but EJ Gallup answered with a left wing transition three. Now up 22-14 Ulm was in a terrific spot as the first quarter entered the final minute. However, the 99ers used an 8-1 run powered by an Aleksander Nadjfeji corner three and 5 Immanuel McElroy points to trim their deficit to one 23-22 at the end of one.
Konrad Wysocki attempts to scoop this shot under Koln's Milko Bjelica in Thursday's game. Konrad scored 13 points with 9 rebounds for Ulm.
Dru Joyce opened second quarter scoring with a breakaway layup but Milko Bjelica and Sinanovic responded immediately regaining a 26-25 99er lead. Kyle Bailey scored on a beautiful baseline under the rim lay-in and Ulm was up 27-26. Two McElroy free throws answered back 28-27 Koln. Bailey then buried a left wing three pushing the guests to 30-28. Rookie 99er big man Yassin Ibdihi sank a jump hook in in the lane to tie the score again. Joyce responded with a top of the key three and Wysocki sank one of two threes and Ulm held a 34-30 lead with just over two minutes in the half. Again, Koln finished the quater strong with a 7-0 run with 5 points from Misan Nikagbatse who played despite back problems. Throughout much of this second quarter stretch, Ulm simply missed open shots. The team got the shots they wanted, but could not convert. Part of this is a credit to the Kolner defense, but the second quarter for Ulm came down to a game of make or miss. Trailing 37-34, Ulm's EJ Gallup drilled a tough right wing pull up J pulling Ulm back within one 37-36. Nadjfeji sank back to back free throws and Koln held a 37-36 advantage. Then, finishing the half strong, Gibbs ballscreened Joyce who drew the hard hedge then smoothly slipped a pass to the cutting Ulm big man. Jeff darted to the rim and hammered home a two hand slam sending Ulm into the halftime lockerroom down one 39-38.
Ulm 7 foot C Sean Finn goes right at Koln's 7'3 Nedzad Sinanovic in Thursdays action. The matchup was part of an interesting game shown live on BBL.TV
At the half, Koln held a 21-14 advantage on the boards and shot 48% from the floor compared with Ulm's 46%. Both teams made 4 threes with Koln a perfect 7 for 7 from the foul line as compared with Ulm's 2 of 4. Overall, the even game saw both teams make runs and looked to be building toward a well-played, exciting finish.
Ulm shooting guard EJ Gallup fakes past 7'3 Nedzad Sinanovic in a one dribble pull up transition three.
Unfortunately for Ulm, as action opened in the third, several empty Ulm possessions and lethargic execution gave the hardworking Koln team the advantage. McElroy sank a buzzer-beating wing three and Keselj made one of two free throws as the 99ers pushed their lead to 43-38. Jeff Gibbs cut the score to 43-40 before Derek Raivio made a left wing three that bounced off the back of the rim and arched high atop the baskets before falling in. Although Bryan Lucas scored on a strong post move setting the score at 46-42, Marko Keselj added another score triggering an Ulm timeout.
Koln's Immanuel McElroy, a relentless talent, recently became the all time leading scorer in 99er history. Thursday he made countless big plays to help his team to the hardfought win over Ulm. Here McElroy works against Ulm defenders Kyle Bailey as teammate Jan Sprunken moves in.
Down 48-42, discussions focused on defensive performance and adjustments while improving offensive efficiency. EJ Gallup drove strong to the rim drawing a foul and getting to the foul line where he made one of two but the veteran Nadjfeji converted two of two and Ulm trailed 51-43. At this point, Ulm marched to a 7-0 surge and EJ Gallup's running midlane finish pulled Ulm within one at 51-50 forcing a Koln timeout. Out of the timeout, McElroy posted up and finished a wheeling layin. Fouled on the play, the all time leading Koln scorer rimmed out his free throw. Kyle Bailey drew a foul in the lane at the other end but could convert only one of two free throws. With under one minute in the third, Ulm was down 53-51. Nadjfeji scored on a leaning left handed finish in the lane against a double team but back to back baskets from Konrad Wysocki and Jeff Gibbs tied the score at 55. It was anybodies ball game. As the third quarter finished, Koln's Misan Nikagbatse missed two free throws but came up with the offensive rebound of his second shot. He instantly drew another foul this time Konrad Wysocki's fourth. Nikagbatse missed his third straight but finally broke the tie on his fourth. At the end of three, the host 99ers held a 56-55 lead.
Bryan Lucas wheels in the post against strong Aleksandar Nadjfeji defense. Lucas finished inside well making 5 of 7 shots on his way to a solid 12 point 7 rebound night.
Choosing to rest starters who were working extremely hard and facing the excellent Koln defensive pressure, Ulm opened the fourth quarter with a big lineup for matchup purposes and a bench lineup to rest the starters. Throughout the game, Ulm's bench had sparked the team with strong minutes from players like Dru Joyce, Sebastian Betz, Jan Sprunken, Sean Finn and Florian Mobius. Certainly the absence of Emeka Erege hurt the Ulm team especially when it came to the Immanuel McElroy matchup, but the Ulm bench has been solid and a contributing factor all early season. However, during this time, Koln opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run. Nadjfeji slammed home a dunk off a basket cut down the lane as Ulm big men rotated to stop a drive. An Ulm turnover led to another Raivio three and Nadjfei scored again in the lane. With starters back in the game, Bryan Lucas was fouled and sank two free throws to bring the score to 63-57 Koln. But forward Marko Keselj put the finishing touches on the 99ers 12-2 run to open the fourth with back to back baskets including a banked in three pointer from the left wing. Taking a timeout to come together, Ulm huddled with just over 6 minutes remaining trailing 68-57 in a rowdy Rheinenergie Dome. Out of the timeout, Jeff Gibbs and Kyle Bailey scored consecutive baskets and Ulm showed signs of life cutting into the lead at 68-61 with 3 minutes to play. Koln Head Coach Sasa Obradovic called for time. Ulm set their plans for a comeback. Unfortunately, out of the timeout, Ulm came up empty on three straight important possessions missing both inside and out. Meanwhile, at the other end, the veteran Nadjfeji scored another important basket extending the 99ers lead to 70-61 casting a shadow as large as the Koln Dome on Ulm. A strong inside finish from Gibbs set the Ulm fouling game in motion but McElroy and Raivio buried a combined 4 of 4 from the charity stripe sealing the game. At the final buzzer, ratiopharm Ulm shook hands with the 99ers and circled up at the center of the floor amidst the hardfought 78-67 defeat.
Ulm gave great effort on the court and had fun with team Moustache day!
For the game, Koln shot 46% from the floor and made 14 of 19 from the foul line (74%) and 8 of 23 from three (35%). The 99ers outrebounded Ulm 40-34 and distributed an impressive 19 team assists. Meanwhile, Ulm hit 44% from the floor but only 4 of 19 from three (21%) and 7 of 15 from the free throw line (47%). Kyle Bailey paced Ulm offensive production with 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists while Konrad Wysocki and Jeff Gibbs added 13 points apiece. Both rebounded well as Wysocki grabbed 9 boards and Gibbs snared 7. Bryan Lucas chipped in 12 points with 7 rebounds in a solid effort as well. Immanuel McElroy was in top form topscoring with 24 points in the game and Marko Keselj and Aleksandar Nadjfeji added 16 points apiece for the 99ers. Nadjfeji was strong all around grabbing 5 rebounds to go with 8 assists. Point guard Derek Raivio was also solid with 8 points 5 boards and 7 dimes.
Ulm C Sean Finn featured the teams best Moustache.
Konrad Wysocki models his 'stache and slick back hair in warmups.
Not only did Kyle Bailey topscore with 16 points, the Ulm PG also came strong with his Fu man Chu.
With the Thursday game in Koln, ratiopharm Ulm will enjoy a weekend free this weekend. The team will return to the practice floor Monday in Ulm aiming to build on their solid 3-3 start to the season. Looking ahead to next weekend, Ulm travels along the Rhein river once again to traditional Bundesliga power Bayer Leverkusen, a 14 time league champion. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
