TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
75
72
W in Dusseldorf!
One second can change a game. Trailing by one, 71-70 with 33 seconds to play, ratiopharm Ulm dug in for a Dusseldorf endline inbound play with one second remaining on the shot clock. In an instant, a deflection and loose ball recovered by Rocky Trice ignited an Ulm 2 on 1 fast break that Robin Benzing finished with a two hand slam giving Ulm a 72-71 lead with 18 seconds to play. Moments later it was rookie Robin Benzing cooly sinking two clutch free throws lifting Ulm to the hardfought victory. Coleman Collins was in top form leading Ulm's attack with 22 points 4 boards while Rocky Trice added a 17 point 10 rebound double double and Robin Benzing finished with 15 points including 7 in the last two minutes helping Ulm seal the win. A terrific team performance, Ulm showed their improvement and earned an important 'W' in Dusseldorf!
ratiopharm Ulm's Coleman Collins was in top form Sunday against Dusseldorf scoring 22 points with several fantastic finishes and highlight slams!
click here for Box score
click here for regio-tv report from Dusseldorf game
Click here for Ulm @ Dusseldorf photo gallery from American-Sports.info
ratiopharm Ulm's Rocky Trice grabs a defensive rebound as part of his important 17 point 10 rebound double double in Sunday's road win over Dusseldorf at Burg-Wachter-Costello in Dusseldorf.
Both ratiopharm Ulm and Dusseldorf were aware of the importance of Sunday's game. Both teams needed the win to further distance themselves from the 'abstiegskampf' and secure themselves safely in the league. Ulm entered Sunday's game one full game ahead of Dusseldorf with eight victories on the season while the Giants totaled seven. But because of Dusseldorf's 28 point road win in Ulm earlier this season, the Giants tipped off Sunday nights game hoping to sweep the season-series with Ulm and hop over the Ulmers in the standings. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm was focused to show their improvement while avenging their early season home debacle against Dusseldorf.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Robin Benzing glides to the hoop for two Sunday night in Dusseldorf. Robin scored 7 key points in the final two minutes helping lift Ulm to the important road win.
At tip off, both teams were ready for this important matchup. ratiopharm Ulm's Lee Humphrey drilled a deep three to get his team on the scoreboard. But it was three point shooting from Dusseldorf center Jonathan Cox that sparked an early Giant burst. With Dusseldorf up 8-7 at the midpoint of the first quarter, Cox drilled three first quarter three pointers and the Giants took the early lead. Dusseldorf's Koko Archibong also started the game strong for the Giants with active, attacking offensive play in the paint. Unfortunately for Ulm, the team made several unintelligent plays during the first ten minutes. Loosing shooters in screens, not pressuring shooters after the catch and unalert off the ball against the Giants shooters, Ulm allowed several easy baskets and open looks allowing the Giants to capitalize. Finally, Ulm's Austen Rowland fouled Dusseldorf's Zack Whiting shooting a last second three to beat the buzzer as the quarter ended. and At the end of one, Ulm trailed by ten 24-14.
ratiopharm Ulm's Austen Rowland feeds the post Sunday night at Burg-Wachter-Costello in Dusseldorf. Austen thrived in the uptempo game dishing out 8 assists.
Quarter two, Ulm got it together. Ulm opened the second quarter with strong play. Key to the regrouping run were point guard Austen Rowland and post man Coleman Collins. With Austen breaking down the defense and finding teammates in transition, the Ulm ballmovement helped the team find a rhythm. And while Austen started the play, Coleman finished it --- his second quarter thunderdunk energized Ulm igniting a comeback. An 8-0 Ulm run trimmed the deficit to 26-21 and Ulm continued to work their way back. Later, a Zack Whiting three was answered by an Austen Rowland three pointer and a Rocky Trice breakaway dunk gave Ulm their first lead 32-31 with four minutes remaining in the first half. Back to back triples from the Dusseldorf shooters pushed the Giants up 37-32, but Ulm finished the first half strong as Robin Benzing evened the score at 37 with a deep three sending the teams into the lockerrooms even at the half. Ulm's 23-13 second quarter was sparked by strong play from Coleman Collins and improved concentration and focus in the game.
ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey drives past Dusseldorf's BA Walker in Sunday nights action from Burg-Wachter-Costello in Dusseldorf.
At the half, Ulm could be positive about their second quarter performance and how the team fought back to even the score at the half. Both teams finished the first half shooting 44% from the floor and Ulm outrebounded Dusseldorf 19-15. While the Giants had the advantage from beyond the arc hitting 7 of 14 threes to Ulm's 4 of 10, Ulm outscored Dusseldorf 20-6 in the paint. Discussing the difference between the first and second quarters, Ulm aimed for better defense against the Dusseldorf shooters and defending the three point line in the second half.
As the third quarter opened, Ulm suffered several early turnovers and empty possessions. Dusseldorf fueled their attack with the Ulm mistakes.
An Ulm missed layup led to a Brendan Winters three at the other end and Ulm called for time with the Giants up six 49-43. Dusseldorf's run continued as the Giants gained momentum building their advantage to 51-43 at the five minute mark of the third. Key to the Dusseldorf surge was the active post play of forward Koko Archibong. With flashback memories to earlier this season at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in October, a Dusseldorf third quarter run snowballed into a 20-0 game-breaking surge as the young Ulm team became frustrated. Sunday night in Dusseldorf was different. Led by Rocky Trice's relentless effort, Ulm responded with an 11-2 run of their own to finish the third quarter. Big baskets included a leaning step through three point play from Trice and a strong finish in the paint from Coleman Collins. Austen Rowland triggered the attack with excellent play in transition and penetration. With one minute in the third, Ulm battled back to take a 54-53 lead. When the third quarter horn sounded, Ulm held a 57-55 lead.
ratiopharm Ulm post man John Bryant blocks a TJ Carter reverse layup attempt Sunday night in Dusseldorf.
In the fourth, Coleman Collins scored lifting Ulm up 61-59. Koko Archibong answered with an athletic jumphook in the lane to even the scoreboard at 61 apiece with 7 minutes to play. The Giants took the lead with four unanswered points giving Dusseldorf a 65-61 lead at the five minute mark of the fourth. A strong finish three point play from Coleman Collins energized Ulm pulling them within two at 66-64 with four minutes to go. Dusseldorf remained ahead over the next minute and a half taking a 70-66 lead. Trailing by four with 2:32 to play, Ulm huddled in a timeout to make their adjustments down the stretch. Ulm responded with strong defensive effort and Rocky Trice stepped up for his team on the offensive end. Rocky sank four straight free throws evening the score 70-70. Dusseldorf head coach Achim Kuczmann called a timeout with 1:30 remaining.
ratiopharm Ulm center Kevin Martin at the foul line Sunday night in Dusseldorf. Kevin added a physical presence to the Ulm attack on both ends of the floor.
Out of the timeout, Ulm dug in for the important defensive possession. As Dusseldorf attacked the Ulm D, their first attempt sailed past the rim off an Ulm defender out of bounds on the baseline as players scrambled for the valuable rebound. The shot clock sounded and officials huddled to discuss the call. One second was put on the shot clock giving the Giants an endline inbound situation under the Ulm defensive basket. Both teams aligned themselves for the key second in the game. The Giants set in a ballside stack with guards at the top and opposite elbow. At the slap of the ball, Dusseldorf players executed their play cutting and popping for a mid-lane lob at the rim. But the ball was deflected bounding freely from midlane toward the top of the key. Ulm's Rocky Trice ran down the loose ball and exploded into transition creating a 2 on 1 with teammate Robin Benzing. In one second momentum swung. At the end of the fast break, the game changed.
ratiopharm Ulm allowed Dusseldorf shooters 7 of 14 from three in the first half but buckeled down to limit the Giants to 2 for 10 from beyond the arc in the second half.
Rocky attacked the basket drawing the Giant defender before slipping a perfect pass to a cutting Benzing and the rookie finished strong slamming ratiopharm Ulm to a 72-71 lead with 18 seconds to play. After another Dusseldorf timeout, Koko Archibong drew a foul with aggressive play in the paint. With Burg-Wachter-Costello fans on the edge of their seat, the veteran Giants star stepped to the foul line for two shots. After Archibong missed them both, Ulm's John Bryant grabbed the rebound. Dusseldorf fouled but it was their last to give. Ulm called timeout to advance the basketball and design their safe inbounds play. Out of the timeout, Ulm players executed well and Coleman Collins made an intelligent play cutting to the ball, safely catching the inbound pass and delivering the ball back to Robin Benzing stepping inbound from the sideline. Dusseldorf fouled Robin immediately sending him to the line. Leading 72-71 with 8 seconds to play, the rookie forward cooly sank both free throws coming through in the clutch once again. As Ulm's lead grew to three, 74-71, Dusseldorf used their final timeout. Ulm put their defensive unit on the floor and discussed their late game defensive tactics. Out of the huddle, the team fouled immediately on the inbound play with Austen Rowland 'getting' Dusseldorf captain Gordon Geib. With 4 seconds to play, Geib stepped to the foul line for two shots. Geib sank the first pulling the Giants within two 74-72. Everyone in the Arena was on their feet for the second free throw. Putting extra arc lofting the foul shot high into the air, Geib missed the second free throw intentionally. As players mixed it up in the lane jockeying for rebounding position, the ball bounced long off the back of the rim. With quickness of a cat, Geib amazingly tracked down the long rebound on the left lane line-midlane. In the air, rebounding and shooting in one motion, Geib attempted the game-tying putback. It bounced off the rim. Ulm tracked down the basketball and tried to dribble out the clock in transition. But Austen Rowland was fouled as the buzzer sounded ending the game. Rowland stepped to the line with time-expired sinking one of two free throws fixing the final score at 75-72. The hardfought road win was a terrific team effort from ratiopharm Ulm and the team could take pride in their performance in Dusseldorf.
ratiopharm Ulm power forward Christian Burns finishes a drive for a strong And 1 in the first half Sunday evening in Dusseldorf.
In the win, ratiopharm Ulm shot 44% from the floor making 5 of 15 threes (33%) and 20 of 27 free throws (74%) while outrebounding Dusseldorf 39-34 and dishing out 15 assists to 12 turnovers. Meanwhile the Giants hit 40% of their shots including 9 of 24 threes (38%) and 13 of 19 from the foul line (68%). Ulm outscored Dusseldorf 40-24 in the paint and limited the Giants to 2 for 10 from three in the second half.
ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther draws contact on a drive from Dusseldorf big man Jonathan Cox.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by Coleman Collins strong 22 point 4 rebound performance while Rocky Trice added an energizing 17 point 10 rebound double double and Robin Benzing finished with 15 points 3 boards including 7 points in the last 2 minutes helping to seal the win. Austen Rowland added 6 points 8 assists for Ulm. On the Giants side, Koko Archibong led the attack with 19 points 8 rebounds, Jonathan Cox added 14 points 8 boards and BA Walker chipped in ten.
ratiopharm Ulm's Robin Benzing finishes this game-changing 2 on 1 with a slam giving Ulm a 72-71 lead with under one minute to play.
The important road win gives Ulm a full two game lead over Dusseldorf, and three game advantage over Giessen and Hagen along with a full five over Paderborn. But while distance from teams behind is important, Ulm remains focused on teams ahead of them. This weekends road win means Ulm skips over Trier in the standings and now trails 12 win teams Ludwigsburg, MBC, Artland and Tubingen by three games. Looking ahead, Ulm prepares for a visit from Eisbaren Bremerhaven and the return of former Ulm star Jeff Gibbs to Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
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GO ULM!
MIKE T
