TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
84 
80 OT
KAMPFENSIEG!
ratiopharm Ulm's took Sportszentrum Kuhberg for an emotional rollercoaster ride in Saturday nights thrilling 84-80 overtime win over MiddleDeutscher Basketball Club. After an excellent first half, Ulm built a 16 point lead rolling with momentum thanks to tremendous defensive effort and terrific teamwork. MBC battled back switching to a zone defense, outscoring Ulm 19-7 in the third and taking a 4 point lead late in the game. Ulm responded with a last minute run putting themselves in a position to win. Leading by three 69-66 with seconds to play, a game-tying left corner three from Wayne Bernard stunned ratiopharm Ulm and Sportszentrum Kuhberg focing overtime. But this roller coaster ride had a happy ending for ratiopharm Ulm as the team stepped up to seal the game earning the hardfought 84-80 overtime win. Fighting through the ups and downs of the game, staying tough through the momentum swings, Saturday's exciting home win was a classic 'kampfensieg' for ratiopharm Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther passionately reacts to his teams exciting 84-80 overtime home win over MBC Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
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ratiopharm Ulm's Rocky Trice flies in for a first half slam against MBC.
Coming off a tough road loss in Bonn last Sunday, Ulm focused on better ball movement and raised defensive intensity as they prepared for Saturday's home game against MBC.
ratiopharm Ulm power forward Christian Burns finishes strong at the rim in the first half as MBC's Johnnie Gilbert challenges. Christian led Ulm's attack with 24 points 7 rebounds in the win.
Ulm penciled in an adjusted starting lineup as team captain and three point sharpshooter Lee Humphrey missed three days of practice during the week due to a hyperextended elbow. Running through plays 5 on 0 and participating as much as possible throughout the week, Lee shot for the first time in the teams morning shootaround and gave the word he would give his best in the game. Sliding talented guard Rocky Trice to the two, Ulm entered rookie forward Robin Benzing into the starting five at the three spot.
ratiopharm Ulm wing Sebastian Betz slips a perfect pass to teammate Coleman Collins in Saturday's home win over MBC.
At tip off, Ulm and MBC were both focused and intense. Teams exchanged possessions before MBC got on the scoreboard first. Ulm responded with a fast 8-0 run for an early 8-2 lead. MBC responded to even the score at 10 apiece at the midway point of the first quarter. In the Wolves run,
a three pointer from point guard Radenko Pilcevic and two buckets from Anatoly Kashirov and Adeola Dagunduro brought MBC back. But ratiopharm Ulm exploded to a 16-7 finish to the first quarter as the teams defense triggered their offense creating fast break situations. As MBC post men stayed in the paint defending ballscreens, Ulm point guards found post man Coleman Collins for catch and shoot jumpshots which sparked the Ulm attack. Coleman finished in the paint giving Ulm a 19-12 advantage before Ulm extended their lead to 23-13. A three point play in fransition from Robin Benzing, runout opportunities from Christian Burns and a tremendous transition slam from Rocky Trice brought the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd to their feet. Leading 26-17 after the first quarter, ratiopharm Ulm got the strong start they wanted and took the momentum of the game.
Christian Burns hits a floater in the middle of the MBC zone defense.
As Quarter two began, ratiopharm Ulm worked to extend their lead but MBC battled back. With intense action on the defensive end from both teams, the game moved forward. At the five minute mark, a beautiful give and go pass from Sebastian Betz to Coleman Collins led to a thunderdunk and a 34-22 Ulm lead. MBC's Radenko Pilcevic sank his second three pointer helping the Wolves and Ivan Elliot buried back to back triples pulling MBC close at 38-32, but MBC turnovers helped ratiopharm Ulm rebuild their double digit margin and Ulm went into the half up 43-32.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Austen Rowland advances the basketball against MBC's Giorgi Gamqrelidze in Saturdays game.
At the half, Ulm held momentum along with their double digit lead. Ulm post players Coleman Collins and Christian Burns were excellent in the first twenty minutes scoring 15 points and 13 points respectively as Ulm shot 59% from the floor and outrebounded MBC 14-11. Ulm's intense defensive effort forced 13 turnovers which triggered a terrific first half fast break attack. Emphasizing ballmovement all week during practice, ratiopharm Ulm came out with an outstanding 12 assists in the first half.
ratiopharm Ulm post man John Bryant pressures MBC's Johnnie Gilbert in Saturday nights game.
Focused for a strong second half, Ulm returned to the floor with ballmovement and defensive intensity in mind. Playing against an 'Aufsteiger' working to prove themselves in the Bundesliga, ratiopharm Ulm knew there would be no quit in MBC. Entering Saturday's game with a 5-3 road record, the Wolves would not go away.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice pushes the basketball in transition against MBC.
As the second half opened, Ulm's defense came up big with several stops. However, three straight transition opportunities resulted in offensive charges. The Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd came to life at the calls against their team. MBC and Ulm continued to wrestle for momentum in the third quarter. Then, MBC head coach Bjorn Harmsen called for the good old 2-3 zone defense. The move changed the rhythm of the game and as ratiopharm Ulm missed their first few open shots, MBC capitalized to trim the lead. Ulm countered with a zone attack lineup including three point sharpshooter Lee Humphrey who played briefly in the first half. Not at full strength due to a hyperextended elbow, Lee had two open looks that just rimmed out. Ulm teammates narrowly missed open shots. MBC's 19-7 third quarter brought the Wolves right back into the game. Despite their sputtering offensive zone attack, Ulm held a 52-49 lead at the end of the third.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Coleman Collins sparked his teams run with a perfect first half hitting 7 of 7 from the floor and 1 for 1 from the foul line to topscore with 15 points in the first twenty minutes.
Ulm's tremendous team performance in the first half wobbled a bit as MBC took momentum in the third quarter with their zone defense. Huddling together between quarters, Ulm refocused on their zone attack and adjusted their team defense. Aiming for a quality ten minutes, ratiopharm Ulm took the floor for the fourth quarter ready to solve the puzzle of the MBC zone and continue their strong team defensive performance.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Robin Benzing finishes a three point play in transition Saturday night against MBC at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
As the fourth quarter began, ratiopharm Ulm worked to regain the momentum. Five straight points from point guard Austen Rowland extended the Ulm lead to 8 points at 59-51, but MBC battled back pulling within two at 59-57. Ulm called for time. But the MBC run continued and forward Ade Dagundro evened the game at 59 with 4 minutes to play. The Wolves surged ahead leading by four with 3 minutes remaining. But a clutch left wing three pointer from rookie Robin Benzing brought Ulm back with in one before Benzing did it again hitting an elbow fadeaway for five straight points regaining a one point lead. Ulm extended their advantage but MBC would not stop. A quick left wing three from Guido Grunheid and a turnover on an endline inbound play gave the Wolves easy points. Finally with 25 seconds remaining, Ulm led 68-65 as MBC took a timeout. ratiopharm Ulm elected to use their foul to give and take a tactical foul that would send MBC to the foul line without a three point attempt. MBC made one of two and proceeded to foul Rocky Trice on the inbound play. Ulm's talented guard also sank one of two and Sportszentrum Kuhberg was braced for an exciting finish. With a three point lead 69-66, Ulm prepared to use another tactical foul. But on the inbound, MBC point guard Radenko Pilcevic burst up the middle of the floor splitting Ulm defenders. The Ulm defenders attempted to foul Pilcevic but received no whistle from officails who chose to let the players decide the game. As Pilcevic reached the frontcourt, Ulm's John Bryant and teammates stepped in to stop the dribble. Instantly Pilcevic jumped into the air and zipped a pass to an open Wayne Bernard in the left corner. The former Davidson Wildcat stepped into the shot and buried the game tying three with 1 second to play --- 69-69, Overtime.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther drills a right wing pullup jumpshot in the first half against MBC. Per finished with 9 points 3 assists in Ulm's win.
ratiopharm Ulm was stunned. Walking off the floor, the young team had seen themselves build a 16 point lead, watched their lead slip away against the zone, fought back to put themselves in a position to win only to allow MBC life with several inexperienced late-game mistakes. Just like their season, Saturday's game against MBC was an emotional roller coaster for ratiopharm Ulm. Huddling together before the start of the extra five minute overtime period, ratiopharm Ulm rallied.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Coleman Collins sinks a mid-range jumpshot as MBC denied the wing ballscreen.
ratiopharm Ulm came out strong in the overtime. An early bench technical on MBC gave Ulm an extra possession in the first minute. MBC continued to play their zone defense. Ulm finally adapted their attack. Active cutting from Christian Burns, Rocky Trice and Coleman Collins created opportunities. Finishing plays in the paint, Collins, Burns and Trice keyed the overtime attack. Leading 73-71, Coleman Collins powerfully tip-dunked an Ulm miss for a big basket and a 75-71 lead. From that point, Ulm regained control of the game and would not let it slip away. Moments later,Ulm broke the fullcourt pressure avoiding the foul as Per Gunther hit Coleman Collins in the middle of the floor where the Ulm post man slipped a pass behind the MBC defense to a wide open Rocky Trice along the baseline. Rocky rose up and punctuated the win with a dunk that gave Ulm an 84-77 lead. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, MBC's Ade Dagundro drilled a cosmetic three just across halfcourt. Sportszentrum Kuhberg celebrated ratiopharm Ulm's hardfought 84-80 overtime win. Ulm outscored MBC 15-11 in the OT to secure the win.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice slices to the basket for an important score in the second half of Saturday's game against MBC.
An emotional roller coaster, ratiopharm Ulm showed tremendous heart and persistance to earn the exciting 84-80 overtime win. ratiopharm Ulm was led by power forward Christian Burns who finished with a strong 24 point 7 rebound performance while Coleman Collins also enjoyed an excellent game hitting 9 of 11 shots for 19 points 3 boards. Robin Benzing chipped in 14 points 5 rebounds and Rocky Trice addded a 10 point 10 rebound double double. As a team, Ulm hit 49% from the floor making only 3 of 18 threes including 1 of 11 in the second half. Ulm sank 17 of 24 free throws (71%) and outrebounded MBC 38-34. Radenko Pilcevic led MBC with 17 points 4 assists while Ade Dagundro added 14 points, Wayne Bernard had 13 and Johnnie Gilbert 11. MBC made 44% of their shots including 13 of 33 threes (39%) along with 7 of 12 free throws (58%). Both teams finished with 13 turnovers.
Rocky Trice puts the exclaimation point on ratiopharm Ulm's 84-80 overtime win with a breakaway dunk that gave Ulm an 84-77 advantage with seconds remaining in OT.
Beating MBC in their final game before the Bundesliga All Star break, ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to a team-building trip to China which includes two exhibition games against Beijing Aoshen Olympians played in the city of Chengdu. Ulm plays the Olympians in Chengdu Saturday January 16th live throughout China on Gansu TV before meeting the Olympians again on January 17th for a second exhibition game. The games are part of a benefit cause helping 2008 Sichuan Province Earthquake victims and feature professional basketball teams from all over the world against the Olympians as they promote basketball, China's fastest growing sport.
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GO ULM!
MIKE T
