TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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82
ONE THAT GOT AWAY!
ratiopharm Ulm played well. But Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, Ulm did not play well enough to beat the hottest team in the Bundesliga as Ewe Baskets Oldenburg came from behind in the fourth quarter to top ratiopharm Ulm 90-82 in an exciting game of runs. Sean Finn posted a 17 point 12 rebound double double and Jeff Gibbs added 17 points 9 rebounds of his own as Ulm pushed to a 44-37 halftime lead and 69-63 lead after three. Unfortunately, the fourth quarter belonged to Oldenburg as the Thunderbirds made several big baskets to storm back late in the game. After an excellent game, Ulm could reflect on the strong performance --- and the lead that got away.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star Konrad Wysocki tip-dunks over Oldenburg's Jasmin Perkovic (12)!
Click here for Ulm v Oldenburg Photo Gallery!
Entering Saturdays game, both Ulm and Oldenburg had alot to play for. Ulm focused on the five team race for the 8th and final playoff spot while Oldenburg aimed for a win to help in their chase for the 4th place finish and home court advantage in the first round of playoffs. Winners of 8 straight at tipoff, Head Coach Predrag Krunic and his men entered Sportszentrum Kuhberg as the hottest team in the Bundesliga. But despite their recent run, Oldenburg remained haunted by Ulm's amazing 73-72 road win at Ewe Arena in December when Emeka Erege hit his halfcourt game-winning miracle. Looking to extend their streak and exterminate the skeletons in their closet, Oldenburg tipped off against Ulm in front of a packed Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Saturday night was certainly a playoff atmosphere.
After making a miracle halfcourt game winning buzzer beater in Oldenburg, Ulm Captain Emeka Erege could only watch Saturdays action against the Thunderbirds at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
In the opening minutes, the size and preparation of Oldenburg gave Ulm problems. Well prepared to play against Ulm, Oldenburg forced several Ulm misses in the paint with strong post defense. The empty possessions allowed the Thunderbirds to start strong building a 7-0 lead. Finally, four minutes into action, Ulm's Sean Finn dropstepped and banked in a right handed hook shot against former NBA C Ruben Boumtje Boumtje to post Ulm's first two points. Complicating matters for ratiopharm Ulm, Dru Joyce picked up two quick personal fouls. The rookie point guard from Akron did an excellent job of playing intelligently with two fouls. EJ Gallup also played the point effectively with Joyce on the bench and kept the Ulm attack running. Ulm's slow start gave the guests an advantage which became a 19-14 lead after one. Asserting himself early, Oldenburg's all star wing Rickey Paulding made several outstanding plays including scoring baskets in transition, from offensive rebounds and from beyond the arc.
Ulm's Dru Joyce works against Oldenburg's Jason Gardner in Saturday nights game. Dru finished with 13 points 6 assists.
Ulm's response came in the second quarter. Jeff Gibbs scored inside and Dru Joyce hit a three from out. Improved defensive work by Ulm created transition opportunities which helped jumpstart the teams offensive attack. In a late first half rally, Bryan Lucas scored giving Ulm their first lead at 37-35. Romeo Travis buried an energizing left wing three off beautiful ball movement and Konrad Wysocki tipdunked over Oldenburg's Jasmin Perkovic to electrify the Ulm fans. A 30-18 second quarter surge gave Ulm a 44-37 halftime lead and the big plays gave the team momentum.
Ulm's Romeo Travis hustles to save a loose ball on the endline in Satruday nights game against Ewe Baskets Oldenburg. Romeo hit two three pointers to finish with 8 points 4 rebounds in a strong 22 minutes of action.
At halftime, Ulm was exactly where they wanted to be. After the slow start on the offensive end, extra effort on the offensive boards and uptempo play in transition got Ulm into a rhythm. Ulm still hit only 9 of 23 in the paint but converted 13 of 15 from the foul line. Defensively, the team's hardwork helped them reverse the momentum. Oldenburg's Rickey Paulding had totaled 17 points in the first half against Ulm's top defenders. Finding a way to shut Paulding down in the second half would be a key to victory. Ulm outrebounded the Thunderbirds 25-18 and shot 41% from the floor while holding Oldenburg to 35% in the first half.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star Jeff Gibbs finishes inside against Oldenburg's Jasmin Perkovic in Saturday nights game. Jeff finished with 17 points 9 rebounds for Ulm.
Sean Finn continued his outstanding game with big baskets in the paint. ratiopharm Ulm's third quarter run put them up 55-46 four minutes into second half action. But the cool Oldenburg team trimmed the deficit with transition baskets helping them keep close. A Bryan Lucas three pointer and Konrad Wysocki right wing three highlighted the action. Ulm's Bryan Lucas drew a foul from Ruben Boumtje Boumtje on a skillful drop-step post move. But after shot faking the former Georgetown Hoya off his feet, as Lucas lunged through to the hoop, Boumtje Boumtje came down on Bryan catching the Ulm post man in an awkward position. As Lucas tumbled to the floor on the endline, he grimaced in pain. Hobbling to his feet and to the foul line, Bryan sank his two free throws despite barely being able to stand. Subbing out after his second make, Bryan left the game with a groin injury and would not return. After stretching the lead to double digits and losing Lucas, Ulm did not lose momentum. At the end of three, Ulm held a 69-63 lead.
Ulm post man Bryan Lucas draws a foul against Ruben Boumtje Boumtje in the third quarter injuring his groin on the play.
With ten minutes to play, Ulm was in excellent position. Romeo Travis buried a left wing three and gave Ulm a boost in the absence of Lucas. Sebastian Betz also played solid minutes during the early fourth quarter and drilled a right wing three. Jeff Gibbs punctuated his play hammering home a basket dunking hard over Oldenburg's Ruben Boumtje Boumtje. Ulm continued to lead but Oldenburg was pushing hard as the competitive game entered the stretch. Rickey Paulding made several big baskets for Oldenburg and shooting guard Branimir Longin drilled two threes and scored 16 points in the second half to spark the comeback.
Sean Finn powers up against Oldenburg's Ruben Boumtje Boumtje in action from Saturday nights game. Finn finished with an Ulm best 17 point 12 rebound double double.
Leading 76-70, Ulm's inexperience caught up with them. With 5 seconds on the shot clock and Oldenburg executing a sideline inbound possession, Ulm defense doubled Jason Gardner to deny. Alertly, Longin zipped a pass to the post and popped to the corner for an open three. Ulm led 76-73. On the next Ulm offensive possession, a play call for a Gibbs post up was well-defended by the Thunderbirds. With precious seconds ticking away, late in the clock, Ulm's EJ Gallup took the pass and looked to create. His pullup jumper rimmedout and started an Oldenburg fast break runout. The layup pulled Oldenburg within one 76-75. Ulm's next possession mirrored the last. Defended well, it was once again Gallup with the ball on the wing with only seconds on the shot clock. Forced to create, EJ dribbled hard middle and got into the lane. Challenged by shot blocker Boumtje Boumtje and an active Oldenburg defense, EJ attempted a mid-lane finish. His soft shot hung on the rim and fell out. Again, a rebound-run-out break was sparked and Oldenburg finished it with a big basket to reclaim the lead 77-76. Ulm stopped the run with a timeout to talk things over. The Rickey Paulding-Jason Gardner 7-0 run was a result of excellent Oldenburg defense and Ulm's execution. ratiopharm Ulm had the lead where they wanted it, but the team did not make the most of possessions. In the critical final minutes, Sean Finn scored to give Ulm a 78-77 advantage, but Oldenburg big man Milan Majstorovic buried a big three to give the guests an 80-78 lead. Ulm's Dru Joyce answered to even the game at 80.
Ulm's EJ Gallup backs down Oldenburgs Miladin Pekovic.
In the next Thunderbird possession, Ulm's defense toughened. Working into the late clock, Ulm rotations were excellent. Oldenburg's ball movement was also sharp. Swinging the ball, Oldenburg found Branimir Longin alone on the right wing. Releasing the shot just over the outstretched fingertips of a hustling Jeff Gibbs, Longin sank a big three giving Oldenburg an 83-80 lead. Dru Joyce answered again with a big bucket for Ulm trimming the margin to 83-82. Ulm came up big with a defensive stop but on the ensuing possession, Jeff Gibbs was called for a foul while posting up on the block. Defensively, Ulm fouled and sent Jason Gardner to the line where he made one of two. Down two 84-82, Ulm had their next chance. After using their last timeout, Ulm took the floor looking to create a steal then foul. As Ulm rotated, scrambled and trapped, Jason Gardner expertly advanced the ball up the right side across halfcourt. But just as he appeared ready to set up the play, Ulm defenders trapped the Oldenburg floor general. With tremendous hustle, Dru Joyce dove on the ball and forced a jump ball call. Possession went back to Ulm with the arrow and Ulm had new life. With less than 30 seconds remaining, Dru Joyce drove hard off a top of the key ballscreen and attacked the rim. Rotating over Ruben Boumtje Boumtje and Rickey Paulding challenged Dru's shot. The ball rimmed out and Oldenburg grabbed the rebound. Oldenbug extended their lead from the foul line . Unfortunately, as Ulm desperately tried to find a way to stay alive in the game, the team rushed shots and came up empty on their looks. At the final buzzer, ratiopharm Ulm could only reflect on their excellent play and the lead that got away. The 90-82 Oldenburg win was a terrific basketball game and the Thunderbirds earned the win with their composure and big plays in the fourth quarter. For Oldenburg, the comeback win helps the wounds from Emeka Erege's halfcourt shot heal. For Ulm, the competitive experience is invaluable.
Ulm's Sebastian Betz defends Jason Gardner in Saturday's action!
Sean Finn played an outstanding game for Ulm leading the team with a 17 point 12 rebound double double while Jeff Gibbs added 17 points 9 boards. Dru Joyce contributed 13 points 6 assists, Konrad Wysocki chipped in 11 points and Bryan Lucas scored 10 points before leaving with his leg injury. Ulm shot 40% from the floor and made 7 of 17 from three along with an excellent 19 of 23 from the foul line (82%). Ulm outrebounded Oldenburg 43-34 in the game. Rickey Paulding keyed the Thunderbird attack with an outstanding 30 point performance including 6 of 10 threes. Branimir Longin added 18 points, Jason Gardner 14 points 6 assists and Ruben Boumtje Boumtje notched a 10 point 11 rebound double double. Oldenburg shot 45% from the floor and made 12 of 32 from three and 16 of 20 (80%) from the line. Winning their 9th game in a row, Oldenburg improved to 19-10 while ratiopharm Ulm fell to 14-16. With Bremerhaven and Braunschweig both losing this weekend, Ulm's hopes remain alive in the race for the 8th and final playoff spot.
Tips for Jeff Gibbs on dealing with a double-team and facing the big Oldenburg front line defenders.
Ulm returns to action with an exciting two game weekend next weekend traveling to Paderborn on Friday night before hosting reigning German Champion brose Baskets Bamberg Sunday in Ulm. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
