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ULM FALLS IN KAISERSLAUTERN 85-69 ratiopharm Ulm road struggles continued Sunday evening in an 85-69 loss at Kaiserslautern in 2.Bundesliga South basketball action. Red Devil guards Tim Johnson and Austen Rowland led the way for Kaiserslautern with excellent efforts in the win. Beating Ulm gave Kaiserslautern their 8th win in 9 games and improved their record to 10-8 while ratiopharm Ulm slid to 14-4 on the season. The second road loss in a row for Ulm, only forward Emeka Erege reached regular form with a fine 21 point 10 rebound night. Not only did Ulm fall in Kaiserslautern, the loss sees them fall four games behind RCE Falke Nurnberg in the league championship race. From the jump ball, Kaiserslautern jumped on Ulm. The backcourt combination of Johsnon and Rowland attacked in transition while power forward David Arigbabu overpowered Ulm defenders in the paint. Cold shooting slowed Ulm's pace. Hungry and read, Kaiserslautern had been waiting all week for their chance at revenge against Ulm who won the first meeting between the two teams this season 84-69 in Ulm October 16th. Tables were turned on Sunday evening. A 20-12 first quarter forced Ulm to fight back on the road. Only Ulm's Emeka Erege attacked with intensity making plays on his way to 11 first half points. Several Ulm players appeared to be sleepwalking on a Sunday afternoon stroll. For both teams, the first half action was anything but pretty. Charged by Erege's effort, Ulm worked their way back into the game. A late second quarter shooting slump from Kaiserslautern helped Ulm climb back into the game. Although Mike T's team went into the lockerroom trailing by only 2 (33-31), concern existed at the teams defensive play. Content to trade baskets, Ulm was inconsistent at getting defensive stops in the first half. To win on the road against a hot team, that needed to change at halftime.
Peter Heizer sinks a first half free throw at Kaiserslautern Trying to turn it on and take control of the game in the second half, Ulm saw the current of momentum swiftly flow the opposite way forcing Ulm to play the third quarter working upstream. After trading baskets in the first few minutes of the third, Kaiserslautern's Tim Johnson buried several big baskets in a run that broke the game open into a 6 point Red Devil lead. Following Ulm's inability to drill open looks, Red Devils held a 12 point lead forcing Ulm's second timeout of the quarter. Again, Johnson was the main culprit with excellent three point shooting and creative slahing to the rim. Ulm's defense was as much at fault for Kaiserslautern's advantage as the Red Devils themselves. Failing to finish possessions, Ulm defended for 18 seconds of the shot clock before allowing several scores in the fading seconds of possessions --- Rowland buried 2 deep threes, Arigbabu wheeled to the rim, Michael Skender slashed between defenders to the rim and Johnson hit a three late in shot clocks. With each score, Kaiserslautern confidence grew. The last straw came with a shot clock running down and Johnson pivoting with the ball at NBA three point range just to the left of the top of the key. Urged by teammates to shoot, Johnson swung through and burst down the right lane line slicing through three Ulm defenders for an uncontested layup as the shot clock buzzer sounded. Clearly, lack of defensive stops plagued Ulm's play Sunday. In efforts to cut the lead, Ulm succeeded at trimming it to 5. But every time Ulm seemed to have a chance to overcome the deficit, poor perimeter shooting stopped them in their tracks. Good looks from midrange rimmed out while three point looks seemed to have a lid on the basket. Kaiserslautern did a fine job of double teaming Maksym Shtein forcing him into a difficult night, 1 for 10 from the floor. Returning from an ankle injury, Kenny Price played through pain shooting 6 for 17 from the floor. Shaheen Holloway hit only 1 of his 7 looks from three. As the Ulm offense failed to find their stroke, players began to press and the offense spun its tires.
Maksym Shtein reaches for a rebound while Emeka Erege (10) looks on. With Ulm struggling to find their offensive rhythm, the teams defense let them down. Kaiserslautern kept control scoring 52 points in the second half including 32 in the fourth quarter. Several timeouts could not break the run as Kaiserslautern coasted to an 85-69 win in which they led the majority of the game. Taylorhoops.com Player of the Game Emeka Erege played hard all night making things happen on both ends and on the boards. Erege finished with a team high 21 points and 10 rebounds. Kenny Price added 18 and Shaheen Holloway 12 in the loss. Unfortunately, a few of the Ulm players looked as if their season was already over. The teams defensive effort was not championship caliber Sunday in Kaiserslautern. Kaiserslautern head coach Stephan Seile and his team should be congratulated for their excellent effort and strong performance in the win. At 10-8, the Red Devils have made great strides this season. In the final days of a contract with Shaheen Holloway, ratiopharm Ulm will announce if the New York City playmaker has accepted Ulm's offer or not. The team will also help injured forward Antoine Sinclair with his knee injury and center Michael Niebling with his ankle. Ulm added Icelandic power forward Fannar Olafsson to its roster over the weekend.
Ulm defensive effort was not championship caliber Sunday. Back in action against 4-14 MTV Kronberg at Sportzentrum Kuhberg, Ulm looks to get back on track with a better defensive performance next weekend. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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