bayreuthroadloss1011

TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

84 65

BAYREUTH 3's BEAT ULM!

ratiopharm Ulm dropped an 84-65 road game to BBC Bayreuth Thursday night at Oberfrankenhalle. Needing a key win to help their fight to stay in the Bundesliga, Bayreuth's emotional first quarter established an early lead before Ulm fought back against the wave of momentum. But Bayreuth caught fire with a string of four straight third quarter three pointers to break the game open. Center John Bryant led the Ulm attack with 14 points 5 rebounds while Robin Benzing and Dan Fitzgerald added 12 points apiece.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant works on the block against Bayreuth big man Jared Reiner Thursday night March 31st at Oberfrankenhalle in Bayreuth.

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click here for photo gallery from Ulm @ Bayreuth

ratiopharm Ulm returned to Oberfrankenhalle in Bayreuth Thursday night for the first time in six seasons.

Center John Bryant won the tip and Ulm attacked for the games opening possession. Bayreuth began the game in a 2-3 zone defense. On Ulm's first offense, Robin Benzing took a left wing three point shot that was offline. Bayreuth's Marcus Ginyard collected the rebound and exploded into transition that resulted in a 2 on 1 finished by Danny Gibson. On Ulm's next possession, Coleman Collins missed a midrange jumpshot. This time, Bayreuth's transition resulted in an Ulm foul. Ekenechukwu Ibekwe hit a foul line jumpshot and the Oberfrankenhalle fans were into the game. Per Gunther drove strong, drew a foul and hit two free throws for Ulm's first two points of the game. Ulm defense earned a stop but a turnover in transition gave Bayreuth an uncontested Drew Neitzel layup. After another Ulm miss, Ibekwe nailed a turnaround jumpshot from the right block for an 8-2 lead.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing works against Bayreuth defender Marcus Ginyard.

Bayreuth's energy set the tone for the first quarter. Per Gunther could not connect on a foulline jumpshot before Jared Reiner completed a play in the paint for a 10-2 Bayreuth lead. John Bryant scored on a layup off an endline play against Bayreuth's 2-3 zone but Marcus Ginyard answered for a 12-4 score. The ball seemed to bounce Bayreuth's way as Ulm players mishandled a defensive rebound along the baseline. Jared Reiner hit an elbow jumpshot and Ulm suffered a turnover on their next possession leading to a timeout at the 4:54 mark of the first quarter. Ibekwe scored on the block for Bayreuth and John Bryant hit two free throws for Ulm. On the next possession, Bayreuth faced an endline inbound situation with 3 seconds on the shot clock. Marcus Ginyard curled a screen along the baseline and powered to a score through a Sean Sonderleiter foul. The three point play pushed Bayreuth to a 19-6 lead. Dan Fitzgerald's drive and finish pulled Ulm within 19-8. But an Ulm turnover led to a Pete Campbell transition three and a 22-8 deficit. John Bryant's post move rimmed out and Bayreuth's Danny Gibson drilled a transition three. The back to back three pointers energized Bayreuth and brought the crowd into effect. Ulm's Tommy Mason-Griffin's layup fell off the rim and Gibson streaked up the floor for another fast break score. In the last minute of the quarter, Dan Fitzgerald drove along the right baseline and found center John Bryant for a finish at the rim. But Bayreuth's young guard Simon Schmitz drove to the basket strong and scored before the buzzer. At the end of one quarter, Bayreuth jumped all over Ulm 29-10.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald hustles after a loose ball in Thursday nights action at Bayreuth.

As quarter two began, Ulm worked to stabalize the game. Focused on the defensive end, Per Gunther set an example with excellent ballpressure causing a turnover on the first possession of the second quarter. Per's steal and layup was the right start for Ulm. Unfortunately for Bayreuth, Simon Schmitz was injured on the play and left the game. Rocky Trice scored on a strong drive then Coleman Collins blocked a shot at one end before finishing an Ulm fast break with a powerful slam. Ulm's surge cut the gap to 29-16 and forced a Bayreuth timeout with 8:33 in the half.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice on the wing

Out of the timeout, Bayreuth's three point shooting became a factor again as Jaivon Harris drilled a three from the left wing. Ulm's Robin Benzing answered with a three of his own, but Harris hit a three from the right wing and Bayreuth led 35-19. Ibekwe hit one of two free throws before Robin Benzing curled to the basket and finished an AND1 layup three point play. Ulm trailed 36-22. Ibekwe sank one of two free throws again before John Bryant grabbed an offensive rebound for a put-back score. Ulm trailed 37-24 with 5 minutes in the half. Lee Humphrey finished a transition drive to the basket cutting the margin to 11. After a defensive stop, Ulm's next attack resulted with a turnover as Dan Fitzgerald spotted up in the corner but stepped on the sideline. Ibekwe sank two free throws for Bayreuth before Ulm's next turnover came from a Per Gunther travel. But Lee Humphrey buried a right wing three cutting the deficit to 10, 39-29 with 2:12 in the half. Bayreuth used a timeout.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin

Robin Benzing missed a three and Drew Neitzel made a pullup jumpshot. John Bryant rimmed out a post move before Marcus Ginyard sank 1 of 2 free throws. Both teams could not score on their final possessions as John Bryant blocked a Marcus Ginyard attempt at the buzzer. After twenty minutes, Ulm had fought their way back into the game and trailed 42-31.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald challenges Bayreuth's guard Simon Schmitz.

At the half, Ulm hit 33% from the floor making 2 of 9 threes (22%) and 7 for 7 from the foul line. Bayreuth outrebounded Ulm 20-16 and made 44% from the field with 4 of 9 threes (44%) and 6 of 9 from the foul line (67%). As expected, Bayreuth came out with tremendous energy, but after the early wave, Ulm fought back into a manageable position at half. Returning to the floor for the second half, Ulm focused for a strong start and quality third quarter.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins defends Bayreuth forward Marcus Ginyard.

As the second half began, Bayreuth again opened in a 2-3 zone. Robin Benzing responded with a strong drive to the rim. Unfortunately, his shot rimmed out. At the other end, Ulm defense forced a miss and John Bryant had the rebound in his hands but Marcus Ginyard deflected the ball out of his hands to Jared Reiner for an easy score. Per Gunther drew a foul and made two free throws cutting the score to 44-33. Ibekwe scored off a lob for Bayreuth. Coleman Collins drew a foul but missed two from the charity stripe. Fortunately for Ulm, Robin Benzing ran down the offensive rebound. As Ulm organized their attack, they went into the post to John Bryant. But a pass out of the post was stolen by Marcus Ginyard who raced coast to coast for a slam. Ulm used a timeout trailing 48-33 at the 6:53 mark. Robin Benzing finished a strong drive but Jaivon Harris drilled a right corner three for Bayreuth. On the next possession, Harris hit a pullup jumpshot. John Bryant scored hitting a corner jumper for Ulm. Marcus Ginyard was fouled on a basket cut and made two free throws.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing

Bayreuth started the game strong and maintained momentum, but their string of four straight three pointers in the late third quarter broke the game open. After Danny Gibson drilled back to back three point shots, Ulm took a timeout to discussing the defensive breakdowns that allowed the triples. But Bayreuth was hot. A Pete Campbell three and another Gibson three poured it on. Finally, a Dan Fitzgerald layup snapped the Bayreuth run. But Bayreuth's third quarter was not finished. After Ulm did not complete a 3 on 2, Harris hit another three making the sixth of the quarter for the hosts.

In the fourth quarter, Ulm outscored Bayreuth 26-15, but the damage was done in Bayreuth's hot-shooting third quarter. Rocky Trice scored on a midlane finish before Drew Neitzel hit a long pullup two. John Bryant drew a foul and made one of two from the foul line. Jared Reiner picked up an offensive rebound and score. Coleman Collins finished a baseline post touch with a two hand dunk and Robin Benzing sank 1 of 2 free throws. John Bryant scored on a layin for Ulm.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald scores on a drive in the second half

Marcus Ginyard hit from the corner before Dan Fitzgerald drilled a right wing three for Ulm. Michael Wenzl scored on a stick-back in the lane and Dan Fitzgerald buried a deep three from the top of the key. Ulm finished the game with a Fitzgerald layin, a Tommy Mason-Griffin transition layup and a Lee Humphrey drive and score.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant on the block against Bayreuth center Jared Reiner.

ratiopharm Ulm was led by center John Bryant's 14 point 5 rebound night while Robin Benzing added 12 points 4 boards and Dan Fitzgerald's 12 points off the bench. Per Gunther added 8 points 7 assists for Ulm. As a team, Ulm shot 38% from the floor making 5 of 18 threes (28%) and 12 of 17 from the foul line (71%). Bayreuth hit 47% including 10 of 20 threes and 12 of 19 from the free throw line (63%). A sign of Bayreuth's work on the night, Bayreuth the Bundesliga's last ranked rebounding team outrebounded Ulm the number 1 rebounding team, 40-30. Danny Gibson led six Bayreuth players in double figures with 19 points hitting 4 of 5 threes. Jaivon Harris hit 4 of 4 threes for 14 points and Ekenechukwu Ibekwe added 13 in the win. Marcus Ginayrd chipped in 12 points and Jared Reiner finished with a 10 point 14 rebound double double.

ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to an intense Schwabische Derby against Rival EnBW Ludwigsburg Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!

GO ULM!

MIKE T