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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

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LUDWIGSBURG OUTSCORES ULM!

EnBW Ludwigsburg outscored ratiopharm Ulm 95-85 to earn an important win in their fight for the BEKO Bundesliga playoffs.  Captain Lee Humphrey led the Ulm attack hitting five of six threes for 19 points and Coleman Collins shared topscoring honors with 19 points 6 rebounds against his former team.  Ulm center John Bryant posted his Bundesliga leading 14th double double with 13 points 17 rebounds in the loss.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant posted his Bundesliga leading 14th double double with 13 points 17 rebounds Friday night against Ludwigsburg.

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Prior to tip off at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm officially announced the contract extensions for point guard Per Gunther and center John Bryant.

Both teams were excited for the next edition of their Schwabische Derby as ratiopharm Ulm looked to finish the season strong and EnBW Ludwigsburg was focused to fight for their playoff possibilities.  Prior to tip off, ratiopharm Ulm officially announced the contract extension of center John Bryant to the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd in a move that was completely expected.  But in an unexpected announcement, All Star point guard Per Gunther took the microphone and announced his two year contract extension to the delight of the ratiopharm Ulm fans.

ratiopharm Ulm tipped off against rival EnBW Ludwigsburg Friday night April 8th, 2011 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.

Ulm won the tip and got off to a strong start as John Bryant finished in the paint with his left hand for two.  Lee Humphrey buried a left wing three to give Ulm a 5-0 lead.  Jerry Green finished a short shot from the right baseline for Ludwigsburg's first points, but a Coleman Collins block shot at one end was complemented by a Coleman Collins transition layup for a 7-2 Ulm lead at the 8 minute mark.  Alex Harris turned the corner and got into the paint for a midlane floater cutting the score to 7-4.  Coleman Collins answered with a jumphook in the lane for a 9-4 Ulm lead.  Alex Harris got to the rim for an athletic finish and the game took on an open-court flow.  Robin Benzing curled a screen and drew a foul where he converted one of two for a 10-6 Ulm lead with 6:50 in the quarter.  John Bowler finished through an Ulm foul for an AND1 three point play cutting Ulm's lead to 10-9, but Lee Humphrey hit his second three of the game for a 13-9 Ulm lead at the 6 minute mark.  Ludwigsburg's Jerry Green scored from a strong post move but Lee Humphrey hit another three giving Ulm a 16-11 lead with 4:54 in the quarter.   

ratiopharm Ulm captain helped his team to a fast 16-11 lead hitting three three pointers.

At the other end, John Bowler sank a long jumper for Ludwigsburg.  Ulm defense earned a shot clock violation and two good looks rimmed out on their offensive possession.  Ludwigsburg answered with a John Bowler bucket.  After another empty Ulm possession, Ludwigsburg's Donatas Zavackas drilled a top of the key three for a 17-16 Ludwigsburg lead, their first of the ballgame.  Tommy Mason-Griffin's elbow pullup jumper rimmed hard and Zavackas raced coast to coast drawing a foul where he sank one of two.  Ludwigsburg led 18-16 with 2:19 in the first quarter.  John Bowler added to the advantage with an offensive rebound and scoop finish under the hoop for two.  Michael Wenzl missed from the right corner and Ulm was beaten in transition by Zavackas who missed his finish but teammate Siim Sander-Vene cleaned it up with a tip in for a 23-16 Ludwigsburg lead.  Rick Rickert finished a screen and roll dive cut for a 25-16 margin closing the first quarter scoring.  After the strong start, ratiopharm Ulm went scoreless over the final 4:54 of the first quarter. 

ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing finishes at the rim in the first half of Friday's action.

As quarter two began, Siim Sander Vene stuck a left corner three pushing the Ludwigsburg lead to 28-16.  Coleman Collins responded with a strong move on the left block returning the deficit to ten.  David McCray hit a left wing long two giving Ludwigsburg a 30-18 lead.  Robin Benzing slashed to the basket for a finish at the rim trimming the gap back to ten, 30-20 with 8:40 in the half.  Rick Rickert went to work on the left block and powered his way to two points for Ludwigsburg.  Coleman Collins drew a foul earning two free throws which he converted one of two.  Fortunately for Ulm, they regained possession on the endline and Robin Benzing drew a foul on a strong drive.  Robin made both for a 32-23 score.  Rickert slammed home two for Ludwigsburg against a soft Ulm zone and Ulm used a timeout trailing 34-23 with 7:50 in the half.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther extends for a layup Friday night against EnBW Ludwigsburg.  Per finished the game with 9 points 7 assists.

Out of the timeout, John Bryant slammed home two for Ulm then finished a fast break by collecting a deflection for a lay in cutting the deficit to 34-27 with 7:07 remaining in the half.  After an Ulm defensive stop, Per Gunther found Coleman Collins cutting to the basket in transition where Coleman finished through a foul. Ludwigsburg called a timeout before the free throw with Ulm trailing 34-29 and 6:41 remaining in quarter two.  Coleman completed the three point play for a 34-30 score.  Moments later, Lee Humphrey hit another three from the right wing trimming the margin to one, 34-33 with 6:17 in the half.  Ulm's 10-0 run brought the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd into the game. 

But Ludwigsburg's Alex Harris hit a pullup jumper in transition pushing the cushion to 36-33.  Coleman Collins drew a foul and sank two free throws cutting the margin to one, 36-35.  Johannes Lischka finished a strong drive giving Ludwigsburg a 38-35 lead.  Lee Humphrey finished midlane for Ulm bringing the game back to one, 38-37.  Ulm earned a stop and Per Gunther drew a foul in transition earning two shots.  After Per sank both free throws, Ulm had fought back to take a 39-38 lead with 4:55 to go in the half.  But like the first quarter, Ulm's inconsistent play in this game of runs allowed Ludwigsburg to reclaim momentum.

John Bowler drew a foul and made two free throws to retake a 40-39 lead for Ludwigsburg.  On the next possession, Bowler drew another foul and cooly sank two more free throws for a 42-39 lead.  After an Ulm turnover, John Bowler went to work again finishing through a foul for another AND1 three point play and a 45-39 Ludwigsburg lead with 3:55 in the half.  At the other end, Robin Benzing rimmed off a post move but Coleman Collins swooped in for an athletic tipdunk slam cutting the score to 45-41 with 3:337 to play in the half.  Jerry Green cut for a post touch score in the paint and a 47-41 Ludwigsburg lead.  Moments later, the game was delayed as Ulm staff checked the Ulm rim which was hanging low as a result of the John Bryant and Coleman Collins first half dunks.  After the momentary delay, action resumed with a Robin Benzing tip in cutting the gap to 47-43 with 2:32 in the half.  Per Gunther collected a loose ball and raced coast to coast for a transition score.  Ulm trailed 47-45 with 2:07 to play in the half.  Toby Bailey was fouled and sank two free throws for a 49-45 cushion at the 1:51 mark.  After an Ulm miss, Toby Bailey cut baseline and slammed through a foul for a three point play and a 52-45 Ludwigsburg lead with 1:19 in the half.  Firing back, Ulm's Lee Humphrey missed a left wing pullup but Coleman Collins followed with a powerful slam.  The game was delayed again to check the rim.  On Ludwigsburg's next possession, Jerry Green turned the corner and got to the rim for a finish and a 54-47 Ludwigsburg lead with 51 seconds to go.  Sean Sonderleiter drew a foul but came up empty from the free throw line for Ulm.  At the other end, Donatas Zavackas drew a foul and sank two from the charity stripe for a 56-47 lead.  Per Gunther drove the gut of the Ludwigsburg defense and finished at the rim for two for Ulm with 5 seconds in the half, but Alex Harris raced coast to coast to beat the clock for a layup before the halftime buzzer and a 58-49 Ludwigsburg lead.  

ratiopharm Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald eyes a free throw Friday night against EnBW Ludwigsburg.

At the half, the game of runs saw Ludwigsburg holding a 9 point lead largely due to their 61% shooting and 12 for 13 accuracy from the free throw line.  While Ulm's offensive attack was solid hitting 50% from the floor including 4 of 9 from three (44%) and suffering only two turnovers, the teams halftime talk centered around defensive details and improving upon their first half defensive effort. 

ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther draws a foul from EnBW Ludwigsburg point guard Jerry Green Friday night.

As the second half began, both teams came up empty on their first possessions before ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey finished a transition layup from the left side.  But Ludwigsburg big man John Bowler finished another bucket in the lane extending the score to 60-51.  Bowler hit a top of the key jumpshot on the next play to push the lead to 62-51.  Donatas Zavackas drilled a left corner three giving Ludwigsburg a 65-51 lead and Ulm used a timeout with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter. 

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant works on the post against EnBW Ludwigsburg big man John Bowler Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.

Moments later, out of the timeout, Lee Humphrey hit another three cutting the gap to 65-54 with 7:07 in the third.  Ulm defense earned a second shot clock violation stop but could not cut the gap as several tips rimmed out and possession went back to Ludwigsburg on the endline.  Ulm got another stop but a midcourt turnover cut a fast break opportunity short.  Finally, after Ulm's third consecutive stop Per Gunther found Robin Benzing for a spot up three in transition cutting the score to 65-57 at the 4:50 mark.  Toby Bailey finished a cut in the lane for two on the counter attack for Ludwigsburg.  At the other end, Robin Benzing missed a three and did not finish in the lane triggering a Ludwigsburg break which resulted in an open Alex Harris three.  Ludwigsburg led 70-57 with 4 minutes in the third.  Tommy Mason-Griffin hit an elbow jumpshot for Ulm before John Bowler scored in the lane for Ludwigsburg.  Dan Fitzgerald nailed a left wing three off a nice pass from Mason-Griffin cutting the score to 72-62 with 3:13 to go.  Tommy Mason-Griffin finished a strong drive through a foul for a three point play cutting the gap to 72-65 with 2:29 in the quarter. Basti Betz came up with a steal and moments later hit a one dribble pullup trimming the score to 72-67 with 1:39 in the third.  Ludwigsburg used a timeout.  But it would be Ludwigsburg who finished the quarter strong as Donatas Zavackas drew a foul and made both free throws.  An Ulm errant pass led to an easy Siim Sander Vene layin for two.  Another Ulm turnover led to a Donatas Zavackas left wing three with 30 seconds in the quarter.  After an Ulm miss, veteran point guard Jerry Green milked the clock and drove strong for a beautiful floater beating the buzzer for an 81-67 score.

ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey hits one of his five threes in Friday nights game against EnBW Ludwigsburg.

In the fourth quarter, Ulm's defense got a stop and Dan Fitzgerald drew a foul in transition leading to one more point for Ulm.  David McCray sank two free throws for Ludwigsburg and the guests held an 83-68 lead with 8:30 to play.  Robin Benzing drew a foul on a strong drive and made both free throws with 7:49 to play.  Ulm had an opportunity to cut into the deficit but a transition turnover gave Alex Harris an easy two.  Ulm used a timeout trailing 85-70 with 6:56 to play. 

ratiopharm Ulm post man Coleman Collins works against EnBW Ludwigsburg forward Donatas Zavackas Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.

Ulm's Coleman Collins finished a fast break with a powerful one hand slam trimming the gap to 85-72 but Jerry Green hit a tough fadeaway along the left baseline for Ludwigsburg.  John Bryant drew a foul on a post move off a high low play and proceeded to hit both free throws for an 87-74 score with 5:34 to go.  Rick Rickert cut to the basket strong and scored for Ludwigsburg before Per Gunther finished an AND 1 three point play for Ulm narrowing the score to 89-77 with 4:59 to play.  Ulm earned a defensive stop but a Robin Benzing pullup transition three was offline.  At the other, Donatas Zavackas hit a tough top of the key pullup for a 91-77 advantage at the 4 minute mark.  John Bryant drew a foul on a post move earning two more free throws for Ulm cutting the game to 91-79 with 3:41 to go.  Jerry Green finished from the right block at the three minute mark for Ludwigsburg.  Lee Humphrey curled to the basket for a layin pulling Ulm to 93-81 with 2:45 to play.  John Bryant was fouled on a dive pickign up two more free throw attempts.  John made the first but rattled out the second and Ulm trailed 93-82 with 2:17 to go.  John Bowler drove strong to the basket past Ulm's John Bryant who slipped on a closeout and Bowler's slam gave Ludwigsburg a 95-82 advantage.  Ulm used their final timeout with 2 minutes to play.  After the timeout, Ulm's John Bryant scored on an offensive rebound bringing Ulm within 11, 95-84 with 1:50 on the game clock.  Coleman Collins drew a foul with 46 seconds to play and made one of two free throws for the final score 95-85. 

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant at the free throw line

ratiopharm Ulm was led by captain Lee Humphrey who hit 5 of 6 from three for 19 points while Coleman Collins added 19 points 6 rebounds of his own against his former Ludwigsburg team.  Ulm center John Bryant posted his Bundesliga leading 14th double double with 13 points 17 rebounds and Robin Benzing chipped in 14 points 6 boards in the loss.  As a team, Ulm shot 42% from the floor making 7 of 21 threes (33%) and 20 of 27 free throws (74%) while outrebounding Ludwigsburg 41-39.  John Bowler led Ludwigsburg with 24 points 7 rebounds, Donatas Zavackas added 16 points 6 boards, Jerry Green finished with 14 points 10 assists and Alex Harris had 13 points in the win.  Ludwigsburg hit 51% from the field making 5 of 15 threes (33%) and 16 of 18 from the free throw line (89%). 

ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to a two game weekend with their final road trip of the season for a Friday night matchup against the Dusseldorf Giants at Burg-Wachter Costello before returning home to host the playoff bound Ewe Baskets Oldenbug. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! 

GO ULM!

MIKE T