TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
84 
77
SKYLINERS EDGE ULM!
ratiopharm Ulm and Deutsche Bank Skyliners competed throughout a game that saw 17 lead changes and 11 ties, but it was Aubrey Reese's clutch three point jumpshot with just over 1 minute to play that helped the Skyliners edge Ulm in a hardfought game Saturday night at Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt. Returning home to face his hometown team, ratiopharm Ulm's Robin Benzing led the attack scoring 20 points on 4 of 7 three point shooting while Christian Burns added 15 points 6 boards and Coleman Collins finished with 13 points 6 rebounds for Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Robin Benzing and Frankfurt forward Derrick Allen compete for a rebound in Saturday's game at Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt.
click here for Box score
Click here for Ulm @ Frankfurt Photo Gallery from Skyliners!
click here for DSF TV highlights
At tip off, a packed Ballsporthalle was energized for the exciting early evening TV game featured as the front end of a BEKO BBL Doubleheader on DSF. After ratiopharm Ulm won the tip, Rocky Trice pushed the ball along the left sideline. Spotting a cutting Coleman Collins, Rocky sailed a high-arching alley oop pass over the Frankfurt defenders. Coleman soared to catch the lob with two hands and power home a thunder dunk And1 over a Skyliner defender. Ulm's strong start was countered by two three pointers from Frankfurt's Quantez Robertson and Aubrey Reese to even the scoreboard at 6-6. Collins continued his excellent play drilling a jumper and finishing a drive at the basket extending Ulm's lead to 11-8. The Skyliners responded with an 8-0 run sparked by Seth Doliboa's extra effort on the offensive boards. Frankfurt held a 16-11 lead. But Ulm's Austen Rowland sank a three pointer and Christian Burns finished strong in the paint bringing Ulm back. As the first quarter buzzer sounded, the game was even at 16.
ratiopharm Ulm's Christian Burns defends Frankfurt's Seth Doliboa in Saturday's game at Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt.
As quarter two opened, Ulm A strong 7-2 stretch from Ulm pushed the lead to 23-18. Austen Rowland sank his second three before Christian Burns finished a transition and Per Gunther converted two free throws. Frankfurt charged back taking a 24-23 lead before Christian Burns scored on a fast break to put Ulm on top 25-24. But the Skyliners continued building a 13-2 run reclaiming a 31-25 advantage with three minutes remaining in the first half. Ulm juggled their lineup as fouls mounted particularly in the front court positions. Austen Rowland sank a clutch three helping Ulm cool off Frankfurt's late first half momentum. As the teams retreated to their halftime lockerrooms, ratiopharm Ulm trailed Frankfurt 37-33.
Big ratiopharm Ulm fans, the Taylor family enjoys pregame conversation Saturday at Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt.
At the half, Ulm was facing heavy foul trouble but the team could feel good about their four point deficit despite having 5 players saddled with three fouls. Coleman Collins, John Bryant, Kevin Martin, Christian Burns and Rocky Trice all finished the first half with three fouls to their name. But trailing by four despite all the foul problems was a positive place to be and ratiopharm Ulm focused on several adjustments to improve their play for the final twenty minutes.
As the second half opened, ratiopharm Ulm started strong. In particular, Jungenheim native Robin Benzing turned his game up sparking his Ulm team. Ulm took a 44-43 lead. Lee Humphrey sank a three and Coleman Collins went to work inside igniting the Ulm offense. In a game that saw 17 lead changes and 11 ties over the fourty minutes, both teams wrestled for control of the game. Five minutes into the third, Ulm led 47-46. Coleman Collins hammered home a monster dunk giving Ulm a 49-48 advantage and Robin Benzing fueled Ulm's fire with another three pushing Ulm's lead to 52-48. But Frankfurt powered their way to a 10-7 surge and the Skyliners held a 56-54 lead as Ulm attacked with 30 seconds in the third. Calling a timeout with 8 seconds on the shot clock, Ulm organized their endline inbound play. Out of the timeout, Ulm executed well and freed up Lee Humphrey for an open look. Unfortunately, Humphrey's three rimmed out, but extra effort on the offensive boards gave Ulm an extra possession. With the third quarter coming to a close, the Skyliners deflected the ball toward halfcourt. Running the ball down, Ulm's Robin Benzing took one dribble and fired a deep three just beating the horn. Robin's three energized ratiopharm Ulm and regained a 57-56 lead.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Kevin Martin challenges Deutsche Bank Skyliners forward Derrick Allen in Saturday's action at Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt.
In the fourth, Frankfurt's Pascal Roller nailed a pull up jumper and an important transition pull up three as ratiopharm Ulm retreated from their press pushing the Skyliners up 61-60. Ulm's Kevin Martin responded with two free throws reclaiming a 62-61 lead for his team. An 8-0 run from Frankfurt gave the Skyliners a 69-62 advantage. Rocky Trice re-entered the game focused to play intelligently with four fouls. But as Frankfurt attacked Ulm's defense, with the shot clock ticking down, the ball was skipped to an open Grayson Moyer on the right wing. Closing out and contesting the three point attempt, Rocky reached high into the air challenging the shot. As the shot was released, Moyer fell to the floor and officials whistled Rocky for his fifth foul. Over seven minutes remained to be played. At the five minute mark of the fourth, Ulm totaled 28 team fouls to Frankfurts 16. Moments later, Ulm's Per Gunther was called for a block and officials gave Ulm head coach Mike Taylor a technical foul for his disagreement. After Roller drilled the free throws, Ulm trailed Frankfurt 76-66 with three minutes to play.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther pressures, Deutsche Bank Skyliner playmaker Pascal Roller.
But an Ulm rally brought the team right back into the game. Robin Benzing buried his fourth three pointer of the game and Christian Burns finished in the lane cutting the Skyliner lead to 76-74 with just over 1 minute to play. On the games next critical possession, Ulm dug in focused for the big defensive stop. Ulm handled the ballmovement and screening forcing Frankfurt into a one on one play. As the shot clock ticked down, the basketball swung to the top for Aubrey Reese as Per Gunther closed him out. Reese quickly caught, shot and buried the big three point shot in the closing seconds of the 24 second shot clock. Frankfurt led 79-74. Ulm made one final push and Frankfurt helped missing several free throws, but with the Skyliners leading 83-77, Ulm came up empty on comeback possessions. At the final horn, Frankfurt edged Ulm 84-77 leaning on their experience down the stretch.
ratiopharm Ulm forward John Bryant challenges an Aubrey Reese layup in the first half of Saturday's game in Frankfurt.
As a team, ratiopharm Ulm shot 42% from the floor making 8 of 24 threes (33%) and 13 of 16 free throws (81%) while dishing out 13 assists to 10 turnovers. Frankfurt sank 52% of their shots making 8 of 19 threes (42%) and 20 of 35 free throws (57%) while outrebounding Ulm 38-33. Frankfurt enjoyed a big advantage at the foul line making 20 of 35 free throws compared with Ulm's 13 of 16. Robin Benzing led Ulm scoring 20 points on 4 of 7 three point shooting, Christian Burns totaled 15 points 6 boards and Coleman Collins added 6 rebounds 4 assists. Seth Doliboa paced Frankfurt with a terrific 18 point 15 rebound double double, Aubrey Reese added 15 points 5 assists, Derrick Allen chipped in 13 points 3 boards, Pascal Roller contributed 12 points 4 assists and Quantez Robertson finished with 10 points in the Skyliner win.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
