TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
82 
70 
BOUNCED OUT!
ULM ELIMINATED FROM GERMAN CUP IN OLDENBURG!
Some days, the ball does not bounce your way. Starting slowly in Wednesday nights German Cup game, ratiopharm Ulm spent most of the game digging out of their first quarter hole only to fall short in the end as Ewe Baskets Oldenburg eliminated Ulm 82-70 at Ewe Arena. In the first quarter, ratiopharm Ulm could not get a bounce as they made 4 of 18 shots while watching Oldenburg build a 25-10 lead before Ulm got the lid off. Ulm bounced back trimming the halftime lead to 45-35 and pulling within 6 in the second half. Oldenburg's excellent three point shooting and timely scoring kept Ulm's comeback attempt at bay as the Thunderbirds earned the win bouncing ratiopharm Ulm out of the German Cup. Center Sean Finn led Ulm with a strong 18 point 11 rebound double double while Jeff Gibbs added 14 points 7 boards and Lee Humphrey 12 points in the loss. Knocked out of the German Cup, ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to their next Bundesliga regular season game Sunday afternoon in Bremerhaven.
ratiopharm Ulm's Romeo Travis grabs an offensive rebound in Wednesday nights German Cup loss in Oldenburg.
Click here for Ulm @ Oldenburg German Cup Photo Gallery
Click for Ulm @ Oldenburg Photo Gallery from Nordwest Zeitung
Click here for Ulm @ Oldenburg German Cup Box Score
Ulm's Dru Joyce rips the ball loose from Oldenburg guard Miladin Pekovic in the first half of Wednesday nights German Cup game at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg.
After beating Koln Saturday night in Ulm, ratiopharm Ulm prepared for their rematch in Oldenburg Wednesday night. This time, Ulm worked for a different result than their 80-75 setback in Game 5 of the new Bundesliga season. Learning from their last trip to Ewe Arena, Ulm tipped off their first action on their 'North Sea Road Trip' with Wednesday nights German Cup Sweet 16 matchup against the talented Ewe Baskets Oldenburg.
ratiopharm Ulm's Keith Triplett and and Sean Finn defend against Oldenburg's Jekel Foster in Wednesday nights game.
At tip off, Ewe Baskets Oldenburg quickly took the lead. Ulm's empty possessions early in the game included a travel, a blocked shot, several missed layups and an errant three. Meanwhile, Je'kel Foster stuck a tough step-back J and Oldenburg's transition game produced several easy baskets. After a Dru Joyce lob pass to a cutting Sean Finn sailed out of bounds, Ulm huddled in a timeout trailing 7-0. Out of the timeout, Oldenburg's run continued as Ulm's basket had a lid on it. Ulm players took turns in the paint with Jeff Gibbs, Sean Finn and Romeo Travis coming up empty. Dan Fitzgerald and Dru Joyce missed. Oldenburg charged ahead. Finally, Sean Finn scored on a step through move in the paint and Ulm was on the scoreboard after 8 minutes and 22 seconds of the first quarter. Finn scored 7 straight points in the last two minutes of the first and when Sebastian Betz intercepted an off-target Oldenburg inbound pass at the top of the key and buried a buzzer beating three, Ulm had scored 10 fast points to trim their deficit to 25-10 after one. In their ice-cold quarter, Ulm made 4 of 18 shots (22%) from the floor, 3 of 15 (20%) in the paint and 1 of 3 threes. On the other end, Oldenburg sank a cool 59%.
Ulm's Dru Joyce works defensively against Oldenburg's point guard Jason Gardner Wednesday night in the German Cup.
Quarter two started better for ratiopharm Ulm. Tightening up their defense, Ulm began to execute and finish plays in the paint with consistency. After five minutes of action, Ulm trailed 32-18. Lee Humphrey buried 3 of 3 three pointers and Dan Fitzgerald added one of his own. Timely shooting from Oldenburg's Miladin Pekovic and Jasmin Perkovic helped the Thunderbirds keep their pace. Ulm's hardwork payed off on a sideline inbound play with 3 seconds remaining. Lee Humphrey shot faked and drove past a closing out Oldenburg defender before scooping an underhand runner off backboard to beat the clock. The ball hung on the rim and Jeff Gibbs slammed home the buzzer-beating tip dunk cutting Oldenburg's lead to ten 45-35.
Ruben Boumtje Boumtje was a force in the paint against Ulm Wednesday night.
At the half, Ulm could be happy to trail by 10. Such a slow start against a strong team is often a recipie for trouble. Ulm's poor shooting percentages and unfinished plays gave Oldenburg chance to trigger their transition game leading to several easy buckets. Staying positive and building from their first half mistakes, Ulm regrouped in the halftime lockerroom and refocused on their game plan.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis pressures Oldenburg's Rickey Paulding in the first half of Wednesday nights German Cup game.
As the second half opened, Dan Fitzgerald was in Ulm's starting lineup as Jeff Gibbs stayed in the lockerroom to receive treatment on a slight shoulder injury. Gibbs reappeared as the second half began and prepared to reenter the action. On the floor, Ulm and Oldenburg continued to attack. Midway through the third, Ulm trailed 55-44. Late in the third, Ulm made a run with Lee Humphrey and Dan Fitzgerald sinking threes. Per Gunther split the Oldenburg defense for a crafty layup and Ulm cut the lead under ten. At the end of the third, Oldenburg led 64-56.
Ulm's Sean Finn defends in the post against Oldenburg's Jasmin Perkovic Wednesday night.
With positive hopes for a comeback and ten minutes to work with, ratiopharm Ulm opened the fourth quarter with visions of making a run to trim the deficit. However, big baskets from Oldenburg helped the home team extend their advantage to 76-60. Coming as close as six after fighting back throughout the game, Ulm's tank was empty. In a play symbolizing Ulm's evening, Dru Joyce ran-out for a breakaway layup only to slip and fall on a wet-spot on the floor. Ulm's Sebastian Betz sparked his team in the final minutes, but on this Wednesday evening in Oldenburg, Ulm fell behind early, faced the first quarter deficit and could not dig out of the hole. Ulm's incomplete comeback was preceeded by a poor start and difficult deficit against a quality team.
Oldenburg hit several tough late-clock three pointers including this one from Ewe's Milan Majstorovic as Ulm's Jeff Gibbs contests and Romeo Travis looks on.
Sean Finn finished with an 18 point 11 rebound double double while Jeff Gibbs added 14 points 7 rebounds. Lee Humphrey hit 4 of 7 threes for 12 points and Romeo Travis worked for 5 points 10 rebounds in the loss. Sebastian Betz totaled 9 points off the bench. Oldenburg was led by Jasmin Perkovic's 14 points and Je'kel Foster's 13 point in the win. Jason Gardner totaled 11 points 5 rebounds 5 assists and Ruben Boumtje Boumtje 11 points 8 boards for Oldenburg. Ulm finished the game shooting 40% from the floor and 7 of 18 from three (39%) while Oldenburg made 54% from the floor with a decisive 13 for 18 from three (46%). Ulm outrebounded Oldenburg 36-32.
Staying in Oldenburg, Ulm's North Sea Road Trip continues with practices at the Ewe Baskets facilities Thursday and Friday before the team travels to Bremerhaven in preparation for their next Bundesliga regular season game 4pm Sunday afternoon at Stadthalle Bremerhaven against the Eisbaren Bremerhaven. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
