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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

100    90

ALBA TOPS ULM 100-90!

ratiopharm Ulm put four players in double figures led by center John Bryant's 20 point 9 rebound performance, but ALBA Berlin earned an entertaining 100-90 home win Wednesday night at O2 World Arena in Berlin.  Rocky Trice added a strong 15 point 5 rebound 4 steal night and Dan Fitzgerald buried three threes on his way to 15 points in his return with ratiopharm Ulm. 

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice finishes a breakaway slam in Wednesday nights against ALBA Berlin at O2 World Arena. 

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O2 World Arena in Berlin is one of the best Arenas in Europe!

ratiopharm Ulm's road trip to Berlin is always one of the highlights of the season.  The opportunity to travel to a fantastic city, compete against a team with successful history and winning tradition and play in one of the best arenas in Europe all make a road trip to Berlin something special. 

ratiopharm Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald was very productive in his first game back with the team.

As ratiopharm Ulm prepared for Wednesday nights midweek matchup, the team integrated their two new players point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin and forward Dan Fitzgerald.  The two new American players gave Ulm 8 imports one more than allowed by Bundesliga rules.  As a result, in a coaches decision point guard Travis Walton was deactivated by ratiopharm Ulm.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin enjoyed a strong debut with an 8 point 5 assist 2 rebound night.

The team also dealt with a minor injury to All Star forward Robin Benzing which forced him to miss Wednesday's game.  Working hard to prepare for the challenges against ALBA Berlin while making their roster adjustments, ALBA Berlin had a new-look of their own with new head coach Muli Katzurin and several new players including Taylor Rochestie, Heiko Schaffartzik and Miroslav Raduljica. Ulm had confidence from their 77-73 home win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg earlier this season, but Wednesday night, Ulm would not sneak up on Berlin.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant dunks for two against ALBA Berlin Wednesday night at O2 World Arena.

At tip off, the 9,600 fans were excited to see the matchup between Ulm and ALBA.  Sebastian Betz stepped into the Ulm starting lineup spelling Robin Benzing. ALBA's Yassin Idbihi won the center jump and drew a foul on a dive cut on the games first possession.  Idbihi sank two free throws to give Berlin a fast 2-0 lead.  Ulm opened with two good looks from three but both Per Gunther and Sebastian Betz were offline.  After a defensive stop, Ulm's Per Gunther was fouled in transition.  But a turnover gave ALBA Berlin a transition opportunity which Derrick Allen turned into a pick and pop jump shot for a 4-0 lead.  Ulm's Sebastian Betz sank a corner three off post reaction from Coleman Collins for his teams first basket cutting the score to 4-3.  Ulm earned another defensive stop and good ballmovement found Coleman Collins spotting up for an elbow jumpshot giving Ulm a 5-4 advantage.  Taylor Rochestie finished a layup for Berlin and Julius Jenkins scored on a run-out fast break giving ALBA an 8-5 lead.  Coleman Collins scored in the lane for Ulm but Yassin Idbihi got a basket in the paint for Berlin. 

ratiopharm Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald drills a jumpshot against ALBA Berlin as part of his 15 point performance Wednesday night.

Midway through the first quarter, ALBA Berlin held a 10-7 lead. Back to back turnovers from Coleman Collins gave ALBA a chance to extend their lead.  After an errant Collins high-low pass ricocheted off the rim, Julius Jenkins finished the play with a fast break slam leading to an Ulm timeout.  4:36 remained in the first quarter and Berlin led 12-7.  Out of the timeout, Sean Sonderleiter scored on a strong post move for ratiopharm Ulm.  At the other end, Miroslav Raduljica was fouled and converted both free throws.  During the free throws, ratiopharm Ulm's new additions of Tommy Mason-Griffin and Dan Fitzgerald checked into the game.  Immediately, Mason-Griffin found Rocky Trice open on the left wing for a three trimming the score to 14-12.  Sonderleiter grabbed a strong defensive rebound and Tommy Mason-Griffin drew a foul attacking the ALBA defense in transition.  Tommy stepped to the free throw line and sank two free throws to tie the game at 14.  Bryce Taylor matched Mason-Griffin at the other end with two free throws for Berlin.

ALBA's Julius Jenkins finished with 19 points 5 assists in the Berlin win.

But ratiopharm Ulm finished the first quarter strong with a 7-0 run over the last 2:04 to claim a 21-16 lead at the end of one.  Rocky Trice drilled a pullup jumpshot before he deflected a Berlin pass for a steal and breakaway slam giving Ulm an 18-16 lead with 58 seconds in the quarter.  Moments later John Bryant powered his way to an AND1 three point play giving Ulm a 21-16 advantage with 26.7 in quarter one.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant battles for an offensive rebound against two ALBA Berlin players Wednesday night.

As Quarter two opened, ALBA's Taylor Rochestie buried a right wing three.  After a Lee Humphrey corner three rimmed out, Bryce Taylor raced coast to coast for a transition layup that tied the game at 21.  Dan Fitzgerald drilled a left wing three after a nice pass from Tommy Mason-Griffin pushing Ulm ahead 24-21.  Tadija Dragicevic hit one of two from the foul line trimming the score to 24-22 Ulm.  After several good looks from Ulm came up empty, ALBA's Sven Schultze sank a foul line jumper to even the game.  Dan Fitzgerald answered with another left wing three for Ulm lifting his team to a 27-24 lead with 6:45 to go in the half.  Schultze matched Fitzgerald with a top of the key three for Berlin.  Per Gunther drove strong to the rim and finished for two but Yassin Idbihi responded for Berlin to tie the game at 29.  Moments later, Bryce Taylor collected a rebound off an Ulm missed shot and went coast to coast for another Berlin layup.

ratiopharm Ulm post man Sean Sonderleiter grabs a rebound as Miroslav Radjulica reaches in.

After five minutes in the second quarter, ALBA was up 31-29. John Bryant powered his way to another AND1 finish and his three point play reclaimed a 32-31 lead for Ulm.  Schultze sank another jumper to give ALBA a 33-32 lead.  Lee Humphrey buried a post reaction three giving Ulm a 35-33 advantage.  ALBA was whistled for an offensive foul leading to a John Bryant slam off a nice feed from Coleman Collins.  Ulm led 37-33.  But ALBA answered with a right corner three from Taylor Rochestie trimming the gap to 37-36 with 2:46 in the quarter.  Per Gunther was fouled on a drive and drilled two free throws to maintain a 39-36 cushion.  Berlin retook the lead with two free throws from Yassin Idbihi and a fastbreak layup by Derrick Allen.  ALBA led 40-39 and Ulm called their second timeout with 1:40 to go.

ratiopharm Ulm wing Sebastian Betz looks to feed the post as ALBA Berlin wing Bryce Taylor defends.

Out of the timeout, Per was fouled on a strong drive and his two free throws reclaimed a 41-40 advantage for Ulm.  A defensive stop gave Ulm a chance to lengthen their lead.  Another hustle play from Per Gunther  saved the ball along the sideline and Coleman Collins turned it into a driving dunk.  Ulm led 43-40.  Finishing the half with a defensive stop, ratiopharm Ulm took their three point lead into the lockerroom.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Per Gunther drives strong as ALBA Berlin's Heiko Schaffartzik defends Wednesday night at O2 World Arena in Berlin.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald drives past ALBA Berlin's Tadija Dragicevic in the first half of Wednesday nights action.

At the half, Ulm held a 43-40 lead.  The teams first twenty minutes together went very well as new players Tommy Mason-Griffin and Dan Fitzgerald enjoyed productive debuts.  Ulm hit 43% of their first half shots including 5 of 12 threes (42%) and 8 of 9 from the foul line.  Ulm also outrebounded ALBA 20-16. Meanwhile, ALBA shot 47% making 3 of 9 threes and 9 of 10 free throws. 

ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins works in the lane as Yassin Idbihi and Derrick Allen defend for ALBA Berlin.

The second half opened just like the first with two free throws from Berlin's Idbihi.  ALBA regained the lead with a Taylor Rochestie shot fake one dribble pull up jump shot on the right wing.  John Bryant scored on a dive cut after a nice pass from Coleman Collins and Ulm led 45-44.  Rocky Trice came up with a steal for Ulm but Taylor Rochestie poked loose a steal for Berlin and Julius Jenkins drew a foul in the ensuing 2 on 1.  2 free throws from Jenkins gave ALBA a 46-45 advantage.  John Bryant reclaimed the lead for Ulm with a turnaround jumpshot from the left block before Derrick Allen scored to give Berlin a 48-47 lead.  After an ALBA miss, John Bryant followed it with a cherry pick layup from behind the Berlin defense.  Ulm led 49-48.  Per Gunther came up with a steal and was fouled leading to one of two free throws for a 50-48 Ulm lead.  ALBA answered as Julius Jenkins was fouled and the former Bundesliga MVP cooly sank two free throws to tie the game at 50.  An Ulm turnover led to an Immanuel McElroy AND1 three point play and a Berlin 53-50 lead.  Moments later an Ulm missed three resulted in a Derrick Allen fastbreak layup.  Ulm used a timeout.

ALBA led 55-50 with five minutes to play in the third.  Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald banked in a leaner off the glass cutting the deficit to 55-52.  Derrick Allen was fouled on an offensive rebound and sank one of two from the foul line lifting Berlin to a 56-52 lead.  An Ulm turnover led to an Immanuel McElroy transition layup giving Berlin a 58-52 advantage.  Rocky Trice hit a pullup jumpshot for Ulm before Julius Jenkins drilled a three for Berlin. John Bryant grabbed an offensive rebound and scored for Ulm before Bryce Taylor got another transition layup for Berlin.  John Bryant scored on a turnaround jumpshot for Ulm before Yassin Idbihi hit one of two foul shots for Berlin. But off of the second free throw, ratiopharm Ulm broke the Berlin 2-2-1 press with precision resulting in a left wing Dan Fitzgerald three.  With 1:53 to go in the third, ALBA led 64-61.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin handles the basketball at the top as his team executes their set play Wednesday night at O2 World Arena in Berlin.

A Dan Fitzgerald steal led to a Tommy Mason-Griffin pull up jumpshot that cut the margin to one, 64-63.   Lee Humphrey came up with a steal that led to a Dan Fitzgerald pull up jumpshot.  Suddenly, ratiopharm Ulm regained the lead, 65-64.  ALBA Berlin used a timeout.  On the next possession, Derrick Allen scored on a high-low pass giving Berlin a 66-65 lead with 31 seconds in the third.  Ulm's Lee Humphrey lost the ball in the lane with 14.6 seconds in the quarter giving the last possession back to Berlin.  Julius Jenkins sliced down the lane for an athletic layin as the quarter came to a close.  At the end of three, ratiopharm Ulm trailed by three, 68-65.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant prepares to fire a skip pass out of the post as Bryce Taylor defends.

In the fourth quarter, Berlin started with a small run pushing their lead to 72-65.  Bryce Taylor buried a sideline three for Berlin before Derrick Allen made one of two free throws.  Ulm's first points of the fourth quarter came on a Tommy Mason-Griffin drive and finish cutting the gap to 72-67.  Sven Schultze sank a right wing three for Berlin.  Ulm used their second timeout.  On the next play, Tommy Mason-Griffin was bumped and knocked over leading him to lose control of the ball.  Scooping the basketball up, ALBA's Bryce Taylor attempted to break into transition but was fouled by Ulm's Sebastian Betz.  Officials whistled the play to be an unsportsmanlike foul because of the last man rule.  Taking advantage of the call, ALBA's Taylor sank both free throws and Julius Jenkins drilled a three boosting Berlin's lead to a game high 80-67.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther delivers a crafty pass in the lane as Yassin Idbihi defends.

But ratiopharm Ulm fought back.  John Bryant sank two free throws before Immanuel McElroy scored on a backdoor cut.  ALBA led 82-69  when Ulm worked for an important 7-0 run.  Back to back three point shots pushed the Ulm attack as Sebastian Betz and Per Gunther sparked their team with the important threes.  ALBA held an 82-75 lead as they called a timeout with 5:30 to play.  Out of the timeout, Ulm's Sebastian Betz collected a steal and drew a foul with 5:12 remaining.  Basti made one of two free throws and Ulm trailed Berlin 82-76 with five minutes to play. 

ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins drives to the basket Wednesday night at O2 World Arena.

As Ulm continued their comeback, ALBA Berlin came up with big shots.  Sven Schultze sank an important three before Bryce Taylor scored in transition.  ALBA rebuilt an 87-76 lead with 4 minutes to go.  Tommy Mason-Griffin scored on a drive for Ulm cutting the score to 87-78.  On the next defensive possession, Ulm's Basti Betz knocked the ball into the backcourt disrupting the Berlin play.  Hustling to make a steal, Basti dove for the ball but Bryce Taylor picked it up.  Turning to attack, Taylor found Taylor Rochestie on the right wing for an open three.  ALBA led 90-78 with 3:36 to play.  Dan Fitzgerald drilled a tough pullup jumpshot before an Ulm turnover led to a Derrick Allen runout.  ALBA led 92-80 with 2:51 to go.  Per Gunther set up John Bryant for a score in a pick and roll play for Ulm and Per Gunther finished a drive in the lane.  Ulm trailed 92-84.  But any hope for a comeback was lost when Ulm's next two shots rimmed out.  A late Julius Jenkins three and Sven Schultze score helped ALBA maintain their cushion despite a three point play and three other free throws from Ulm's Rocky Trice.  In the final moments just before the buzzer, ALBA's Derrick Allen scored on a fastbreak layup setting the final score at 100-90.  The entertaining game was filled with good offensive plays as both teams made runs throughout the night. 

ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey plays pick and roll against ALBA Berlin.

ratiopharm Ulm was led by John Bryant's game high 20 points 9 rebounds while Rocky Trice added 15 points 5 rebounds 4 steals and Dan Fitzgerald finished with 15 points in his season debut.  Per Gunther chipped in 12 points for Ulm.  New point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin gave Ulm a strong 8 point 2 rebound 5 assist first game.  As a team ratiopharm Ulm shot 53% from the floor making 8 of 19 threes (42%) and 14 of 19 free throws (74%). 

Herb Brown and wife Sherri enjoyed the road trip to Berlin with ratiopharm Ulm. 

Julius Jenkins led the ALBA attack with 19 points 5 assists and Bryce Taylor added 18 points 7 boards for Berlin. Derrick Allen finished with 16 points, Sven Schultze 15 points, Yassin Idbihi 11 points 8 boards and Taylor Rochestie had 10 points 7 assists in the Berlin win.  As a team, ALBA hit 57% from the floor making 10 of 19 threes (53%) and 22 of 27 from the foul line. The teams tied at 29 rebounds apiece.  ratiopharm Ulm suffered 17 turnovers to 12 for ALBA Berlin.

Despite the 100-90 road loss at ALBA Berlin, ratiopharm Ulm takes many positives from their Wednesday night performance at O2 World Arena as they turn their attention to their next game against MiddleDeutscher Basketball Club (MBC) Saturday March 12 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.  Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! 

GO ULM!

MIKE T