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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

ULM TOPS DUSSELDORF IN CHRISTMAS GAME!

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant powered his way to a 26 point 18 rebound double double, Ulm outrebounded Dusseldorf 45-32 and limited the Giants to 34% shooting in a 76-64 Christmas Game home win Sunday December 26th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Along with the strong play from John Bryant, Ulm received 15 points 5 rebounds 3 assists from Robin Benzing and 15 points 5 rebounds 3 assists from Rocky Trice in the Holiday win. Sunday's 76-64 Christmas Game victory was a gift all ratiopharm Ulm fans of all ages could share together at Sportszentrum Kuhberg for the Holidays.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant powered his team with a 26 point 18 rebound double double in Sunday's 76-64 home win over Dusseldorf Giants.

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click here for highlights from Ulm v Dusseldorf

ratiopharm Ulm post man Sean Sonderleiter

Playing a special Christmas Game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, both ratiopharm Ulm and Dusseldorf Giants were focused for Holiday hoops. The second of two important home games for ratiopharm Ulm, a Christmas Game win over Dusseldorf was expected as the Giants entered Sunday's matchup with a 2-14 last placed record. While Dusseldorf was focused for an upset to fight their way out of relegation zone, ratiopharm Ulm wanted a win to push themselves up the standings.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins with authority.

Tipping off this Christmas Game, center John Bryant won the tip and Ulm attacked for the first possession of the game. The ball eventually found an open Robin Benzing at the top of the key where the talented young forward drilled a three for the games first basket. Ulm's defense started strong recording stops on the first five Dusseldorf possessions. Sean Sonderleiter's strong post move drew a Dusseldorf foul and the hardworking Ulm post man sank one of two from the line. Ulm led 4-0. John Bryant's hardwork on the offensive boards drew another Dusseldorf foul and John followed with two free throws. Rocky Trice sank a transition pull up jumpshot and Ulm led 8-0 at the 6:30 mark of the first quarter. Olu Famutimi made a jumper from the left corner breaking the ice for the Giants. Sean Sonderleiter delivered a perfect high-low post pass and John Bryant finished his seal with a layup pushing Ulm's lead to 10-2 with 5:45 on the clock. Per Gunther drew a foul and converted one of two from the charity stripe adding one more point to Ulm's total. Famutimi struck again with a left wing three and Ulm led 11-5 at the midpoint of the first quarter. Rocky Trice hit a baseline jumper from the right corner before Dusseldorf's Jamaal Tatum countered with a three from the left wing flaring to the corner. Ulm led 13-8. John Bryant powered to a jumphook basket giving Ulm a 15-8 advantage. Laimonas Kisielius responded with a move into the midlane for Dusseldorf. Rocky Trice flew down the lane for a tipdunk and Ulm led 17-10 with 3 minutes remaining in the first. But Dusseldorf would close the opening quarter strong outscoring Ulm 7-1. Ulm took an 18-17 lead into quarter two.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Robin Benzing with a eurostep for two.

As quarter two began, Ulm earned back to back defensive stops. Lee Humphrey buried a left wing three pushing Ulm up 21-17. Nikita Khartchenkov matched it with a three of his own from the left wing for Dusseldorf returning Ulm's lead to 1, 21-20. Khartchenkov stepped to the foul line and made two free throws giving Dusseldorf their first lead 22-21 with 8:05 in the second quarter. Sean Sonderleiter's elbow jumpshot saved a sloppy Ulm possession and reclaimed a 23-22 lead with 7:42 to go. Joe Buck finished a three point play pushing Dusseldorf back on top 25-23 at 7:33. An unforced turnover gave Dusseldorf another easy basket and a 27-23 lead. Ulm called time with 7:22 to go.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther reads the defense.

Out of the timeout, Coleman Collins hammered a two hand slam pulling Ulm to 27-25 at the 7 minute mark. Rans Brempong hit a short jump hook rebuilding the Giants lead. Another poor Ulm pass led to a second Giants transition layup and Dusseldorf led 31-25, but a quick counter attack led to a John Bryant three point play. Ulm trailed 31-28 at the 6 minute mark. John Bryant hit a foul line jumpshot pulling Ulm within one 31-30 before Robin Benzing picked up a steal and finished a fast break with a smooth eurostep that retook the lead 32-31 with 3:35 to play in the first half. Dusseldorf used a timeout. Back to action, Rans Brempong picked up a foul on a reverse layup attempt and proceeded to make both free throws giving the Giants a 33-32 advantage. Two DeAndre Haynes free throws pushed the Giants ahead 35-33 with 2:11 in the half. A John Bryant reverse layup cut the margin to one. Finally, a John Bryant post finish gave Ulm a 36-35 lead with 35 seconds to play in the half. Bryant's back to back baskets reclaimed the lead for Ulm and closed the scoring for the first twenty minutes.

ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey in triple threat position.

At the half, Ulm held a one point lead. As a team, Ulm shot 45% from the floor making only 2 of 10 three point attempts and 6 of 9 from the foul line while outrebounding Dusseldorf 22-17. The Giants hit 36% from the field making 3 of 12 threes and 8 of 9 free throws. John Bryant powered his way to 15 points 8 boards at the half as Ulm used their size advantage in the paint.

ratiopharm Ulm wing Sebastian Betz

Sean Sonderleiter opened third quarter scoring with hardwork on the offensive glass and a strong post finish. Two DeAndre Haynes free throws trimmed Ulm's cushion to one 38-37. But Haynes followed with a transition three from the left wing and the Giants took a 40-38 lead with 7:10 to go. John Bryant evened the game at 40 apiece with a fadeaway from the left block for Ulm with 6:30 in the third. Rocky Trice sank a pull up jump shot from the right wing getting the lead for Ulm. John Bryant followed with a tip in pushing Ulm to a 44-40 advantage. Haynes made one of two from the foul line for Dusseldorf. John Bryant made his presence felt again with hardwork on the offensive glass drawing a foul and made one of two from the line. Ulm led 45-41 with 4:15. Lee Humphrey drilled a left wing three extending Ulm's advantage to 48-41. Dusseldorf called a timeout with 3:55 in the third. John Bryant buried another foul line jumpshot and Ulm led 50-41. Rans Brempong finished in the lane for the Giants with 3 minutes in the quarter. With 2:02 in the third, Nikita Khartchenkov sank two free throws pulling the Giants within 50-45. But Ulm closed the quarter with a Lee Humphrey layup from an endline in bound play and a Rocky Trice steal that led to a Travis Walton fast break layup. After three, Ulm led 54-45.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Travis Walton gets to the rim.

In the fourth quarter, Olu Famutimi collected a steal on Ulm's first possession and broke into the open court behind the Ulm defense. Racing in for an easy two, Famutimi's breakaway dunk rimmed out. In the surprising scramble that followed, Sean Sonderleiter knocked the ball off Famutimi standing out of bounds. The hustle play gave Ulm momentum. Robin Benzing capitalized with a pull up jumpshot from the left wing. Ulm led 56-45. DeAndre Haynes sank two free throws for Dusseldorf. Giants Head coach Murat Didin used a timeout with 7:55 remaining.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice

Two Robin Benzing free throws rebuilt Ulm's lead to 58-47. Jamaal Tatum responded with an offensive rebound put-back for Dusseldorf with 7:17. Dusseldorf defense forced an Ulm turnover from a five second endline count. Tatum stepped up again to nail a left wing three pulling the Giants to 58-52 with 6:56 to play. Robin Benzing answered with a top of the key three rebuilding Ulm's lead to 61-52. Haynes hit a pull up J for the Giants. After an offensive foul, Ulm used a timeout with 6:03 on the clock.

ratiopharm Ulm post man Sean Sonderleiter finishes a jumphook in the paint.

Rans Brempong hit a short faceup jump shot from the left side cutting Ulm's lead to 61-56. Robin Benzing tacked one another free throw and Ulm led 62-56 with five minutes remaining in the game. Down the stretch, Ulm's defense stepped up to record important stops. With 4:14 to play, Per Gunther hit an important three from the left wing in transition giving Ulm a 65-56 lead. Dusseldorf used their nextl timeout. At the three minute mark Basti Betz came up with a steal but Dusseldorf's DeAndre Haynes forced a turnover and picked up an intentional foul giving him two shots plus ball possession. Haynes converted both free throws but John Bryant ripped down an important defensive rebound and Ulm led 65-58. At the 2:48 mark, John Bryant picked up a fifth foul on Rans Brempong, the only Dusseldorf center. Bryant cooly sank two free throws pushing Ulm's lead to 67-58. With 2:15 to play, Per Gunther stepped up again to hit his second important three giving Ulm an 12 point cushion 70-58. At the two minute mark, Rocky Trice poked loose his fourth steal of the game and broke free for a reverse dunk and a 72-58 Ulm lead. With 1:40 to play, DeAndre Haynes sank a three for Dusseldorf cutting the deficit to 72-61. Jamaal Tatum finished a layup for the Giants at the 1:29 mark bringing the score to 72-63. Haynes picked up a foul and added one free throw to finish the Dusseldorf scoring. John Bryant grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 35 seconds left to give Ulm a 74-64 lead before Robin Benzing completed Ulm's scoring hitting two free throws with 10 seconds on the clock. At the final buzzer, ratiopharm Ulm could enjoy their 76-64 Christmas game home win over the Dusseldorf Giants.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Robin Benzing

ratiopharm Ulm was led by center John Bryant's outstanding 26 point 18 rebound double double while Robin Benzing added 15 points 5 rebounds 3 assists and Rocky Trice chipped in 10 points 5 rebounds 3 assists. As a team, Ulm shot 46% from the floor making 6 of 18 threes and 14 of 19 free throws (74%). Ulm outrebounded Dusseldorf 45-32. The Giants hit 34% of their shots including 6 of 22 threes (27%) and 18 of 28 foul shots (64%). DeAndre Haynes finished with 20 points 6 rebounds, Jamaal Tatum had 12 and Nikita Khartchenkov 11 in the loss.

Winning back to back home games, ratiopharm Ulm looks forward to two road trips north starting with a Wednesday matchup against powerful Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 8pm at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!

GO ULM!

MIKE T