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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

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OLDENBURG EDGES ULM!

ratiopharm Ulm battled nose to nose with Ewe Baskets Oldenburg in a game that featured 9 lead changed and five ties, but the Thunderbirds capitalized on opportunity down the stretch in a hardfought 84-79 road loss for Ulm. 21 points 6 rebounds from Robin Benzing and a 15 point 12 rebound double double from John Bryant led the Ulm attack while Lee Humphrey hit three threes on his way to 13 points in the loss. Ulm led 59-49 late in the third quarter before a double-technical between Travis Walton and Daniel Hain sparked a 13-0 Oldenburg run. The Thunderbirds built a 67-61 advantage with six minute remaining, but ratiopharm Ulm fought back to take a 72-71 lead with 3:10 in the game. But Lou Campbell stepped up to make big plays scoring seven straight points in the closing minutes leading Oldenburg to the win.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice drives strong against Ewe Baskets Oldenburg forward Oliver Stevic Wednesday night at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg.

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Playing the first of two road games in Northwest Germany, ratiopharm Ulm made the long road trip north to Oldenburg for a challenging matchup against the Thunderbirds. Bundesliga champions in 2008-2009, Oldenburg was hungry and focused to bounce back from their 101-66 road loss against a red-hot brose Baskets Bamberg team Monday December 27th. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm was ready for the challenge entering Wednesday nights game with momentum from their back to back home wins in their last two games.

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Travis Walton and teammates huddle during Wednesday nights game at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg.

Tipping off, ratiopharm Ulm won the tip and got onto the scoreboard first with a Robin Benzing right wing three. Rocky Trice followed with a basket before Lou Campbell finished a strong drive for Oldenburg's first points. John Bryant's hardwork in the paint drew a foul and the Ulm center sank one of two free throws. Ulm's changing defenses resulted in a stop and Sean Sonderleiter grabbed an offensive rebound for a put back basket giving Ulm an early 8-2 lead. Lou Campbell ran off baseline screens and hit a left wing three pulling the Thunderbirds within 8-5 but Sonderleiter answered with a midlane jumpshot for Ulm. Mindaugas Lukauskis scored for Oldenburg before Robin Benzing buried his second three pointer of the game pushing Ulm's lead to 13-7. Oliver Stevic scored inside for Oldenburg and Aron Baynes added one of two from the foul line. A technical foul on Ulm's Sean Sonderleiter saddled the Ulm post man with three fouls in the first quarter. Lou Campbell hit two free throws cutting Ulm's lead to 1, 13-12. Per Gunther made two foul shots at the other end but Oldenburg's Stevic finished a tip in setting the score at 15-14 Ulm. Christopher McNaughton gave Oldenburg their first lead with two free throws before adding two more for an 18-15 margin. Robin Benzing drilled a tough pullup jumpshot from the left elbow cutting the gap to 1, 18-17 before Rickey Paulding hit a baseline pullup over tough Ulm defense. At the end of one quarter, Ulm trailed Oldenburg 20-17.

Ewe Baskets Oldenburg guard Mindaugas Lukauskis finishes in the lane against ratiopharm Ulm Wednesday night at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg.

As quarter two began, Ulm attacked the Oldenburg defense with teamwork and ballmovement. John Bryant established himself inside scoring Ulm's first six points of the second quarter. Ulm charged to a 23-22 lead. Mindaugas Lukauskis sank a three pointer pushing Oldenburg up 25-22 but Per Gunther sliced to the basket for a late clock score for Ulm. Luka Bogdanovic drilled a right wing three off good ballmovement from Oldenburg but Per Gunther drew a foul on a strong drive in transition and proceeded to sink two free throws. Oldenburg led 28-27. Lukauskis hit a runner in the lane for the Thunderbirds but Robin Benzing and John Bryant got back to back baskets for Ulm to claim a 31-30 lead. Bogdanovic cut to the basket and hit a short shot from the left block and Oliver Stevic added one free throw giving Oldenburg a 34-31 cushion. Rocky Trice responded for Ulm with a strong finish in transition before Bogdanovic buried another three from the top of the key. Oldenburg took a 37-33 advantage but Trice answered again hitting and a right wing three for Ulm cutting the deficit to 1, 37-36. Rickey Paulding came up empty on two free throws before Travis Walton drew a foul and made his two shots from the charity stripe giving Ulm a 38-37 lead. Mindaugas Lukauskis converted one of two foul shots to tie the game at 38 with just over one minute in the first half. The teams exchanged defensive stops before Robin Benzing drilled a left wing three in transition lifting Ulm to a 41-38 lead with 14 seconds in the half. Oldenburg used a timeout. Ulm dug in for a defensive stop and effectively shut down the Oldenburg attack, but a deflected ball took a luck bounce right back to Lukauskis in the lane and the veteran Lithuanian sharpshooter finished a fadeaway at the buzzer to energize Oldenburg.

Ewe Baskets Oldenburg wing Rickey Paulding shoots over ratiopharm Ulm's Sebastian Betz Wednesday night at Ewe Arena.

At the half, Ulm held a one point lead, 41-40. Just like the score, Ulm shot 41% from the floor compared with Oldenburg's 40%. Ulm hit 4 of 10 threes (40%) to Oldenburg's 4 of 13 (31%) and Ulm coverted 9 of 10 free throws to Oldenburg's 8 of 13 (62%). Ulm outrebounded the Thunderbirds 27-18. Ulm suffered 6 turnovers to Oldenburg's 1.

Focused to meet the challenge, ratiopharm Ulm powered to a strong start in the third . John Bryant hammered a dunk off a screen and roll play before Aron Baynes answered for Oldenburg. Oliver Stevic hit one free throw and then finished a layup in transition. Oldenburg took a 45-43 lead. Lee Humphrey drilled a three reclaiming a lead for Ulm 46-45. Baynes slammed home two for Oldenburg to give the Thunderbirds a 47-46 advantage. But Robin Benzing drilled another three and Lee Humphrey finished a drive at the rim pushing Ulm to a 53-47 lead. Oldenburg used a timeout. Lukauskis scored in the paint for the Thunderbirds, but Ulm's run continued as Robin Benzing scored off the glass and Sebastian Betz cut free for a layup at the basket. Finally, Sean Sonderleiter finished a pick and roll with a layup giving Ulm a 59-49 lead with just over 2 minutes in the third. Rickey Paulding finished strong for Oldenburg to snap the Ulm run. In the last minute of the quarter, Ulm's emotions got the best of them as Travis Walton was called for a technical foul after Daniel Hain drew a charge. Hain confronted Walton attempting to take the ball from Walton who elbowed Hain as the two exchanged shoves. Double technicals were called in the situation. Oliver Stevic capitalized on the Oldenburg momentum with a strong post move for an AND1 finish on the left block. The three point play cut Ulm's lead to 59-54. Ulm turnovers in the late third snuffed the attack and Daniel Hain hit a late third three cutting the score to 59-57 at the quarter horn.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins challenges Ewe Baskets Oldenburg forward Oliver Stevic Wednesday night at Ewe Arena.

In the fourth quarter, Oldenburg's run continued as ratiopharm Ulm worked to stabalize their game and regain momentum. Mindaugas Lukauskis hit a tough top of the key three and Oldenburg took a 60-59 lead early in the fourth. Rickey Paulding scored on a strong move in the post pushing the Oldenburg advantage to 62-59. Ulm's John Bryant answered stopping the Oldenburg run. Daniel Hain stepped up again to sink his second three of the game, this time from the right corner. Oldenburg led 65-61. Another Paulding score pushed Oldenburg up six, 67-61 with six minutes remaining in the game. Ulm used a timeout. Back to action, Lee Humphrey buried a clutch three trimming the deficit in half 67-64. Christopher McNaughton caught a pass midlane and drove for a finish off glass giving Oldenburg a 69-64 lead. Lee Humphrey stepped up again sinking his second clutch three and Ulm trailed 69-67. Paulding kept pace for Oldenburg with a big bucket, but a Rocky Trice right wing three pulled Ulm within one 71-70 with 4:04 to play. Ulm's defense came up with a stops and after a turnover in transition on their first chance, Per Gunther scored on a strong drive to give Ulm a 72-71 lead at the 3:10 mark. Lou Campbell responded with a strong drive from the left wing and a finish at the rim that gave Oldenburg a 73-72 lead with 2:53 to go. Oliver Stevic scored on a screen and roll and the Thunderbirds held a 75-72 advantage with 2:25 but Ulm's John Bryant powered his way to a dunk down the lane that brought Ulm back within one 75-74 with 2:05 remaining. Down one, Ulm's defense toughened and got what they needed --- a defensive stop. As Oliver Stevic's dive cut layup attempt rolled off the rim, Ulm's Rocky Trice tracked down the loose ball rebound. With 1:27 on the clock, Rocky called the play and walked the ball up court. Advancing the ball too slowly, Rocky was called for an 8 second halfcourt violation. The turnover took away Ulm's opportunity and returned opportunity to Oldenburg late in the game. Needing another stop, Ulm focused in for the important defensive possession. Unfortunately, the team could not get another opportunity as Lou Campbell buried a big top of the key three with 56 seconds to go. Oldenburg led 78-74 and Ulm used their second timeout. Drawing up a quick hitter sideline play, Ulm's Robin Benzing took an inbound pass and immediately attacked the basket drawing a foul to earn two free throws with 54 seconds. Robin converted one of two free throws and cut the score to 78-75. Ulm needed a defensive stop. Once again Lou Campbell came through for Oldenburg. After an uncalled attempt by Per Gunther to draw a charge on Rickey Paulding, Campbell scooped up a loose ball, hung in the air and hit a contested 18 foot jumpshot to give the Thunderbirds an 80-75 lead with 29 seconds left. Ulm used their final timeout. Once again, out of the timeout, Robin Benzing was fouled on a drive earning two more free throws with 25 seconds left. Robin buried both foul shots pulling Ulm within 80-77. With a one second differential between shot clock and game clock, Ulm trapped one time and fouled Lou Campbell. Like moments before, Campbell made the big baskets sinking both free throws increasing the Oldenburg lead to 82-77. 21 seconds remained. A Benzing top of the key three rimmed off with 7 seconds and Luka Bogdanovic secured the rebound for Oldenburg effectively ending the game. Bogdanovic added the two free throws before Lee Humphrey raced end to end finished a layup before the final buzzer. Ewe Baskets Oldenburg and fans celebrated an 84-79 win. The competitive game had 9 lead changes and was tied 5 times.

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant defends Ewe Baskets Oldenburg big man Aron Baynes Wednesday night at Ewe Arena.

ratiopharm Ulm was led by Robin Benzing's 21 point 6 rebound performance while John Bryant added a 15 point 12 rebound double double, his league leading sixth of the season. Captain Lee Humphrey hit three threes on his way to 13 points while Per Gunther and Rocky Trice finished with 10 points apiece. As a team, Ulm shot 46% from the floor making 9 of 19 threes (47%) and 12 of 14 from the foul line (86%). Ulm outrebounded Oldenburg 45-31 but suffered 19 turnovers to Oldenburg's 6. Lou Campbell paced five Thunderbirds in double figures with 16 points 4 assists followed by Mindaugas Lukauskis with 15 points 4 assists and Oliver Stevic with 14 points 9 boards. Rickey Paulding and Luka Bogdanovic had 10 points apiece for Oldenburg who hit 44% from the field including 8 of 25 threes (32%) and 14 of 20 free throws (70%).

ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to another road trip north for a January 2nd New Years game Sunday against Eisbaren Bremerhaven. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!

GO ULM!

MIKE T