TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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1 POINT FOR 1 POINT!
ratiopharm Ulm picked up a new point guard over the weekend when Austen Rowland transferred from LTi Giessen 46ers back home to Ulm where he played in 2006-2007 and led the Bundesliga in assists. But Giessen blocked Rowland's release leading to week-long pre-game exchanges between the two organizations that led to Bundesliga involvement. While Ulm picked up a point, saturday night, the 46ers picked up a 1 point 73-72 win over ratiopharm Ulm. In the hardfought game, Ulm held a late 72-70 lead with one minute to play, but Giessen's David Teague finished a tough runner and made one of two free throws to lift the 46ers to the win. Ulm played without sharpshooting captian Lee Humphrey who was suffering from the flu. Ulm outshot the 46ers 50% to 42% but Giessen's 19 offensive rebounds and 39-30 advantage on the backboards were key for the 46ers.
ratiopharm Ulm's Christian Burns slaps the backboard in a block attempt against LTi Giessen 46ers Saturday night.
click here for Box score
click here for photo gallery from Giessen
After former Ulm point guard Austen Rowland transfered from LTi Giessen back to Ulm early Monday December 8th, a drama unfolded between the two teams and their fans throughout the week. While Ulm added Austen to upgrade their point guard situation, Giessen looked to protect themselves and denied Rowland his release. As Ulm and Giessen fought over the release and the situation, fans exchanged shots over internet forum and team went back and forth through official press releases. Eventually, the Bundesliga stepped in and the teams went to court. Settled late in the week, Austen was not granted his release and was not available to play against his team from the previous week in Giessen.
Also not available to play for Ulm was sharpshooting captain Lee Humphrey who caught the flu after Friday nights practice and did not make the trip to Giessen with the team. While Ulm was without both Humphrey and Rowland, the positive pre-game news was that rookie forward Robin Benzing was healthy enough to play after beating the flu earlier in the week and missing most of the week of practice.
Even without all the drama off the floor, Ulm and Giessen were focused for an important game as both teams worked for solid position in the Bundesliga avoiding relegation. While there was much buildup throughout the week, both Ulm and Giessen were more focused on the jump shots than then shots fired.
At tip off, the intensity from the Austen Rowland saga was apparent on the floor and in the stands as both teams were engaged into the game. Ulm held a slight 6-4 lead before Maurice Jeffers buried a three sparking the games first run. Giessen surged to a 15-6 advantage with their 11-0 run and Ulm went scoreless for a five minute stretch in the first quarter. Suffering turnovers and unfinished plays, Ulm fell behind. With 2 minutes remaining in the first, Ulm's Per Gunther sank one of two free throws setting the score at 15-7. Responding with a 7-2 run of their own, Ulm asserted themselves in the game. A Christian Burns basket pulled Ulm within three 17-14. Giessen added another basket and the first quarter finished with the 46ers holding a 19-14 lead.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Coleman Collins finishes a turnaround jumpshot on the block in Saturday's action against LTi Giessen 46ers.
Quarter two tipped off with David Teague extending Giessen's lead to 21-14. But a second 7-2 Ulm run pulled them back within two, 23-21. Robin Benzing sparked this second quarter Ulm run with a deep three point shot. Moments later, at the 8 minute mark, Ulm's Coleman Collins hammered home a rim-rattling slam dunk evening the score at 23 apiece. Both teams battled for control of the action. Giessen played some zone and Ulm uneasily attacked without their three point sharpshooter Lee Humphrey. With 2 minutes remaining in the first half, Ulm huddled for a timeout just before an endline inbound play. Trailing 34-30, Ulm surrendered a 4-1 run and Giessen took a 38-31 advantage into the halftime locker room.
At the half, Ulm discussed their offensive attack handling the 46ers trapping ballscreens and making team plays against the pressure by cutting to open areas and becoming available as targets for teammates. Ulm's 10 first half turnovers and 10 rebound disadvantage against the 46ers positioned Giessen for their 38-31 halftime lead. Working hard to change the rebound margin and alert to making team plays against the traps, ratiopharm Ulm returned to the floor for the second half with a focus to make a run and reclaim the lead.
ratiopharm Ulm's Rocky Trice defends Giessen's David Teague.
As the second half opened, Ulm's John Bryant made his presence felt on both ends. Playing with tremendous energy and effort, the former St Joe's Hawk forward made plays at both ends of the floor pulling Ulm back into the game. 3 minutes into the second half, Ulm was trailing by 1, 38-37. Moments later, the scoreboard was even at 41-41. Ulm edged ahead and lead 46-44 berofe a courgeous three from Maurice Jeffers which regained the lead for the 46ers. Action picked up as both teams fired shots at each other. Johannes Lischka sank a basket. Ulm's Robin Benzing answered with a three. Maurice Jeffers buried a bucket and Rocky Trice responded with a three. At the end of the third quarter, Ulm trailed 58-53.
In the fourth, Ulm immediately erased the deficit and when Sebastian Betz buried a top of the key three, Ulm had evened the score at 58-58. Continuing their strong comeback effort, Ulm trimmed the deficit and regained the lead 67-66 on a clutch Per Gunther right wing three. Ulm's ball movement was excellent as Rocky Trice penetrared, found an open Robin Benzing on the right corner who instantly swung the basketball to a wide open Per Gunther who cooly stepped into an open right wing three. The big shot gave Ulm a momentum boost and Giessen huddled for a timeout. With intensity and emotion rising in the final minutes, Giessen's Kevin Johnson scored inside reclaiming the lead for the 46ers. Next, hustling after a loose ball rebound, Ulm's John Bryant was shaked up as he dove for a recovery. A Giessen forward jumped on his head while he was on the floor. Unfortunately for Ulm, John would miss the final scenes of this game. With 1 minute to play, Giessen's David Teague tied the score even at 72. On Ulm's next possession a slashing drive from Rocky Trice saw him find Robin Benzing posting up in the right corner. Wide open, Robin's three point look rimmed out. With under one minute and a tie game at 73. With 40 seconds to play, Giessen guard David Teague cut to the basket and drew a foul from Ulm's Coleman Collins. Teague cooly stepped to the foul line and made one of two lifting the 46ers to a one point 73-72 lead. Ulm's Christian Burns settled for a pull up jumpshot that also rimmed out. But a strong defensive play helped Ulm regain possession with 17 seconds to play. Pushing the basketball up the floor, Ulm's Per Gunther organized his team and began the attack for the game deciding shot. But as Ulm began to operate its play, Giessen quickly used one of their three fouls to give. Ulm held possession for a sideline inbound play with 7 seconds to play.
Both ratiopharm Ulm and Giessen were ready to play Saturday night.
Ulm called timeout to set their strategy for the game-deciding play. After some screening action from their sideline inbound set, Ulm's Robin Benzing popped to the top of the key to take the pass. Immediately attacking the basket, Robin drove strong to the basket attacking along the right lane-line. Spinning into the lane, Robin lost control of the basketball and both teams hustled to regain possession. First, Giessen's Kevin Johnson temporarily had control. After Johnson lost it, Ulm's John Bryant swooped in for the pickup. With time running out, Bryant lofted a soft pass backward toward Ulm's clutch shooting guard Rocky Trice. Recognizing only seconds remained, Rocky jumped uo into the air and grabbed the floating basketball. Hammered to the floor by a Giessen player, Trice drew a foul at the buzzer. Officials temporarily huddled. After talking it through, the play was called a non-shooting foul and the game was over 73-72.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by Christian Burns who finished with 13 points 3 rebounds while Robin Benzing added 11 points 3 boards, Coleman Collins had 11 points 4 rebounds, Sebastian Betz totaled 11 points on a perfect three for three from three and Rocky Trice contributed 10 points 7 rebounds 3 steals for Ulm. John Bryant produced 9 points 5 rebounds before leaving late in the game with his head injury. In the hardfought loss, Ulm shot 50% from the floor making 9 of 17 threes (53%) and 7 of 12 free throws (58%). After suffering 10 turnovers in the first half, Ulm limited their turnovers in the second half to 5 for 15 for the game. Ulm limited the 46ers to 42% shooting including 6 fo 17 from three (35%). A key to the game was Giessen's extra effort on the offensive boards which gave the 46ers 19 offensive rebounds leading to 13 more shot attempts than Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm Head coach Mike Taylor with Saturday nights center of attention, new point guard Austen Rowland.
Saturday night, while Ulm picked up new point guard Austen Rowland, the 46ers picked up the 1 point 73-72 win. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
