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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

83 77

LATE HAGEN RUN BEATS ULM!

ratiopharm Ulm and Phoenix Hagen went back and forth in a game that featured 18 ties and 17 lead changes, but a late Hagen run pushed the Phoenix to an 83-77 win Friday night at Enervie Arena in Hagen. Rocky Trice was tremendous for ratiopharm Ulm finishing with a 25 point 15 rebound double double while center John Bryant added 10 points 15 boards of his own. The loss spoiled the Homecoming for ratiopharm Ulm point guard and Hagen native Per Gunther who enjoyed a solid performance with 12 points in the loss.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther huddles with Head coach Mike Taylor Friday night at Enervie Arena

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ratiopharm Ulm got on the scoreboard first as Rocky Trice hit a pullup jumpshot on the left wing. Hagen's Jacob Burtschi drove strong to even the game at 2. Robin Benzing answered for Ulm with a bank shot to finish a transition but Bernd Kruell drew a foul for Hagen and sank two free throws tying the score at 4. Both teams exchanged misses before Burtschi scored again on a give and go play for a 6-4 Phoenix lead. John Bryant collected a lob pass and dunked for Ulm and the game was tied again at six. Hagen's David Bell finished a drive and Quentin Pryor scored on a backdoor layup pushing the hosts ahead 10-6,

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin defends Hagen guard Mark Dorris Friday night at Enervie Arena in Hagen.

Rocky Trice responded for Ulm with an offensive rebound put-back basket closing the gap to 10-8 but Jacob Burtschi snuck behind the Ulm defense and beat the shot clock buzzer with a layup for a 12-8 Hagen lead. Per Gunther drilled a pullup jumpshot pulling Ulm within 12-10 at the 5:20 mark of the first quarter before Sebastian Betz tied the score on a tipdunk that energized the Ulm bench. Rocky Trice poked loose a steal and scored in transition for a 14-12 Ulm lead. Mark Dorris drove strong for a layup that evened the game at 14. Again, Rocky Trice pushed Ulm ahead with a step-through finish in the lane. Mark Dorris matched Rocky once again evening the game at 16 with a foul line pullup jumper. Rocky went one up with a three pointer from the left wing off a nice pass from Tommy Mason-Griffin. Ulm led 19-16. Mark Dorris answered for Hagen with another pullup score cutting Ulm's advantage to 19-18. Tommy Mason-Griffin stuck a step back jumpshot on the left baseline giving Ulm a 21-18 lead. But backup forward Dominik Spohr drove strong and finished an AND1 three point play to complete first quarter scoring. At the end of one, the teams were tied at 21.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant finishes a left hook through a foul Friday night at Enervie Arena in Hagen.

Between quarters, Ulm emphasized their teams transition defense and continued to focus on their game plan to defend the three point line and control the defensive boards. On the offensive end, completing plays with strong finishes would help to elevate the teams efficiency.

As quarter two opened, Hagen forward Zygimantas Jonusas drew a foul and sank two free throws. ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey drilled a right wing three pointer pushing Ulm ahead 24-22. Dominik Spohr drew another foul in transition and sank both free throws for a tie ballgame. Mark Dorris continued his strong first half with another bucket giving Hagen a 26-24 lead. Rocky Trice responded for Ulm with a layup to even the game again. After a defensive stop, Ulm's ballmovement found Dan Fitzgerald on the left wing where the sharpshooter attacked the closeout and got to the rim for an uncontested layup. As Ulm took the 28-26 lead, the Hagen defensive breakdown led to a Phoenix timeout at the 7 minute mark.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther looks for a teammate Friday night in Hagen.

Out of the timeout, ratiopharm Ulm built on their lead with a Rocky Trice pullup jumpshot. But back to back jumpshots from Hagen forward Matt Terwilliger evened the scoreboard at 30. Robin Benzing sank a right corner jumpshot before Jacob Burtschi drove strong to put back his own miss for a 32-32 game. John Bryant scored on a strong left handed hook shot through a foul but could not complete the three point play. Ulm led 34-32. On the other end, Hagen guard David Bell drove strong to finish through a foul and add the free throw for a 35-34 Hagen lead. Sebastian Betz found John Bryant on a crafty pass in the lane for an easy Bryant bucket pushing Ulm ahead 36-35. But David Bell was fouled on a drive and his two free throws reclaimed a 37-36 Hagen lead.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing draws a charge against Phoenix Hagen's David Bell.

In the closing minutes of the first half, ratiopharm Ulm and Hagen attacked one another with teams exchanging defensive stops and empty possessions. Finally, Ulm took a timeout. Rocky Trice scored on an endline inbound play for a 38-37 lead and Per Gunther scored on a runout layup giving Ulm a 40-37 advantage. Hagen took a timeout with 1:17 remaining in the half. Jacob Burtschi scored to narrow the gap to one, 40-39. Later in the half, Robin Benzing drew a charge giving Ulm the final possession, but a Benzing shot rimmed out and Ulm took a 40-39 lead into the halftime lockerroom.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant passes out of a Hagen double team Friday night at Enervie Arena.

At the half, Ulm held a 40-39 lead. As a team, Ulm shot 41% from the floor making 2 of 9 threes (22%). Ulm was 0 for 1 from the foul line in the first half compared with Hagen's 9 for 10. Hagen shot 38% from the floor and went 0 for 11 from three. Rocky Trice sparked the Ulm offensive attack with 17 first half points hitting 7 of 10 from the floor in the first twenty minutes.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant challenges Phoenix Hagen forward Jacob Burtschi Friday night at Enervie Arena in Hagen.

Ulm and Hagen continued their back and forth game in the second half. Zygimantas Jonusas scored on a pullup jumper in the lane for a 41-40 Hagen lead. John Bryant powered his way to an offensive rebound putback for a 42-41 Ulm advantage. Rocky Trice extended Ulm's lead to 44-41. Moments later Per Gunther sliced to the basket on a strong drive in transition giving Ulm a 46-41 cushion. Hagen took a timeout with 7 minutes remaining in the third.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther encourages his teammates from the bench Friday night at Enervie Arena in Hagen.

After an offensive rebound, Hagen swung the ball to the corner where Mark Dorris drilled the first three point shot of the game for the Phoenix cutting Ulm's advantage to 46-44. Rocky Trice blocked a shot at one end before finishing a pullup jumper at the other giving Ulm a 48-44 lead. Two Jacob Burtschi free throws trimmed the gap to two. Ulm went through a stretch of four missed shots before Jonusas tied the score with a finish in the lane. Dan Fitzgerald drew a foul on a drive and made one of two free throws to reclaim a 49-48 Ulm lead. Jonusas answered again for Hagen with a curl in the paint for a 50-49 Hagen lead. Tommy Mason-Griffin stepped into a left wing jumpshot off a pass from Rocky Trice that gave Ulm a 51-50 advantage. Two more Burtschi free throws retook a 52-51 lead for Hagen. After an Ulm miss, Jonusas cut backdoor and finished through a foul for a three point play and a 55-51 Hagen lead. But Ulm fought back as Tommy Mason-Griffin found Coleman Collins for a fast break slam cutting the Hagen lead to 55-53. Mark Dorris drew a foul and converted two free throws for a 57-53 advantage before Lee Humphrey was fouled shooting a right corner three. Lee rimmed out his first two free throws but collected himself to hit the last for a 57-54 game. After a defensive stop, Tommy Mason-Griffin drew a foul and sank two for two trimming the deficit to one, 57-56. Continuing their comeback, Ulm's defense stopped Hagen and John Bryant collected an offensive rebound and finished a reverse layup just before the third quarter buzzer. Ulm and Hagen had exchanged third quarter runs, but Ulm held a 58-57 lead.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice blocks a Quentin Pryor shot as Ulm's John Bryant helps Friday night at Enervie Arena in Hagen.

In the fourth quarter, Ulm struck first with a Tommy Mason-Griffin right wing three point shot pushing their advantage to 61-57. David Bell hit a step back jumpshot for Hagen before two Jonusas free throws tied the score at 61. But ratiopharm Ulm rallied for a run. Per Gunther drew a foul and sank two free throws for a 63-61 lead. Per finished a drive for a layup and a 65-61 advantage. Then, after a strong defensive stop, Per finished another drive with a spin and layup in the lane. Ulm's burst built a 67-61 lead. A Hagen turnover on the next possession led to a Phoenix timeout. 5:53 remained to play. Out of the timeout, Ulm went to Rocky Trice in an isolation play and Rocky continued his outstanding game with a big bucket driving baseline for a 69-61 Ulm lead. The game clock ticked under five minutes.

ratiopharm Ulm wing Sebastian Betz defends Zygimantas Jonusas Friday night at Enervie Arena in Hagen.

On the next possession, Ulm defense recorded a strong stop and John Bryant ripped down the rebound in traffic. Handling a double team, Bryant found teammate Per Gunther who pushed the ball in transition. Hagen defenders knocked Per over and the Ulm pg skidded along the floor. Alertly, Per found Tommy Mason-Griffin on the right wing and TMG zipped a pass to an open Robin Benzing in the right corner. Unfortunately for Ulm, Robin's quick three rimmed out and started a Hagen fast break. Mark Dorris scored in transition energizing the home crowd. On Ulm's next possession, Robin's drive resulted in a forced shot miss. Hagen capitalized with another Dorris transition basket cutting the Ulm lead in half to 69-65- Ulm called a timeout. 4:39 remained.

Out of the timeout, John Bryant drew a foul on a pick and roll dive play. Unfortunately for Ulm, John came up empty on the foul line missing two. At the other end, Mark Dorris drew a foul and sank both further narrowing the game to 69-67. Moments later, two Jacob Burthschi free throws tied the score at 69. Needing a big basket to stop the Hagen run, Dan Fitzgeralf stepped up for Ulm and drilled a jumpshot for a 71-69 Ulm lead. David Bell drew a foul and made two free throws to tie the score at 71. After an Ulm miss, Ulm defense had a loose ball deflection and near steal, but Hagen recovered the loose ball and swung it to the corner where Quentin Pryor drilled a big three for a 74-71 Ulm lead. Ulm's Rocky Trice was forced into a late clock forced shot at the other end. Ulm defense came up with a big stop, but Per Gunther was called for a travel in the 2 on 1 transition. With under one minute to play, Hagen's Matt Terwilliger came through with a tip in for a 76-71 Hagen lead. Ulm used a timeout with 57.8 seconds to play. On the ensuing inbound, Rocky Trice drew a foul and sank both free throws to cut the deficit to three, 76-73. Looking to pressure and defend, Ulm picked up fullcourt. As David Bell cut to the baseline, Ulm's Per Gunther pressured his catch. Bell fell to the floor along the baseline and officials called a foul on Gunther. Bell proceeded to sink both free throws pushing Hagen up 78-73. On Ulm's next possession, Tommy Mason-Griffin drove strong but lost control of the ball for a turnover. As Ulm trapped in the backcourt working for an 8 second call, the shot clock never started. Once officials realized the shot clock was not running, they sorted out the situation and awarded Hagen with possession on the sideline with 16 seconds on the shot clock. Ulm was forced to foul. Mark Dorris sank two free throws pushing Hagen up 80-73. Tommy Mason-Griffin drew a foul pushing the basketball for Ulm but made only one of two from the foul line. Ulm trailed 80-74. Fouling once again, Ulm sent Dorris back to the foul line where he cooly converted both free throws for an 82-74 lead. Ulm's Lee Humphrey buried a desperation three cutting the gap to 82-77. Ulm fouled David Bell with time running out. Bell made his first but missed his second. Ulm's two attempts came up empty as the game clock ran down and final horn sounded. Hagen's late run had given the Phoenix an 83-77 homecourt win.

ratiopharm Ulm was led by Rocky Trice's outstanding 25 point 15 rebound performance. Center John Bryant produced a 10 point 15 rebound double double while Per Gunther added 12 points and Tommy Mason-Griffin finished with 10 points 4 assists. As a team, ratiopharm Ulm shot 39% from the floor making 4 of 20 threes (20%) and 9 of 16 free throws (56%) while outrebounding Hagen 52-47. Ulm's strong defensive effort limited Hagen to 35% from the floor making 2 of 17 threes (12%) in the game. Hagen converted 29 of 31 free throws making the difference in the game.

ratiopharm Ulm looks forward to their Sunday home game against TBB Trier on Family Day at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!

GO ULM!

MIKE T