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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE

84  81

DERBY DRAG

An emotional rivalry game is always fantastic to win and disappointing to lose.  For this chapter of the Baden Wurtemburg Derby between rivals ratiopharm Ulm and Walter Tigers Tübingen, the Tigers earned the win.  ratiopharm Ulm's slow start to Saturday nights Baden Wurtemburg Derby forced the team to play from behind and despite a career high 33 point performance from Robin Benzing, Ulm came up short against the Tigers 84-81. After ratiopharm Ulm won 100-83 in Tübingen earlier this season, rival Tigers got revenge with their 84-81 road win in Ulm. 

ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther walks off the floor following Saturday's hardfought Derby loss to rival Tubingen.

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click here for photo gallery from Ulm v Tubingen

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click here for highlights from Ulm v Tubingen

ratiopharm ulm fans filled Sportszentrum Kuhberg for Saturday nights game which is likely the last Baden Wurtemburg Derby in the historic Ulm gym.  As spectators packed in place, the emotion and meaning of the game was clear.  Pregame, ratiopharm Ulm and Walter Tigers Tubingen went about their business with focus.  Unfortunately for ratiopharm Ulm, it would be Tubingen with the better start into this chapter of the rivalry.

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice sizes up Tubingen defender Branislav Ratkovica in the first quarter of Saturday nights Baden Wurtemburg Derby at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.

At tip off, Ulm and Tubingen were charged with intensity and energy.  Ulm opened with the first possession after Coleman Collins won the jump ball.  On Ulm's first possession, Rocky Trice got a clean look at an open three from the right wing.  It rimmed out.  Ulm defense earned a stop.  Robin Benzing missed a pullup jumper in transition.  On the next offensive possession, Ulm crashed the offensive boards and earned an endline inbound situation.  Robin Benzing curled off a downscreen and dropped a pass off to Coleman Collins at the right elbow.  Coleman attempted a contested pullup J.  It rimmed out.  Tübingen countered in transition and Chris Oliver hit the games first basket with a right wing three.  At the other end, Ulm center John Bryant's finish in the lane rimmed out.  Tübingen center Anatoly Kashirov had his shot goal-tended by Ulm's Coleman Collins.  With 7:46 on the clock, Tübingen held an early 5-0 lead. 

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant finishes in the paint as Tübingen Tigers close in.

Ulm continued their cold start.  John Bryant zipped a cross court post reaction skip pass to Robin Benzing who shot a right wing three.  It rimmed out.  At the other end, Anatoly Kashirov was fouled by Rocky Trice.  Kashirov sank one of two free throws and Tubingen led 6-0 at the 7:11 mark.  Ulm's next possession was also empty as Robin Benzing bumped a cut going backdoor but bobbled a pass from John Bryant.  The turnover was followed by a Coleman Collins turnover after he slipped making a move in the lane.  Fortunately after both situations, Ulm defense held strong including Per Gunther taking a charge at 6:25 of the first quarter.

ratiopharm Ulm's next opportunities resulted in Per Gunther and John Bryant misses.  Basti Betz grabbed a defensive rebound starting a fast break, but again Ulm came up empty with a turnover.  The Tigers countered with a dunk from Chris Oliver for an 8-0 lead.  Rocky Trice forced a drive at the other end and charged picking up his second foul with 4:30 remaining in the first quarter.  Tübingen's Dane Watts ducked in and finished a post move for a 10-0 Tiger advantage.  ratiopharm Ulm's slow start and poor offensive performance gave Tübingen tremendous momentum and confidence early in the game.

ratiopharm Ulm post man Sean Sonderleiter slams home two of his 8 points Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.

With 4:08 on the clock, Lee Humphrey buried a three from the right wing to break the ice and finally get the lid off the Ulm basket.  Basti Betz came up with a steal for Ulm before Branislav Ratkovica sank a long three for Tübingen pushing the Tigers to a 13-3 cushion.  With 1:55 to go, Sean Sonderleiter drew a foul and made both free throws for Ulm before a Coleman Collins shotblock led to a Sonderleiter slam from Collins. Finally, Travis Walton slipped a pass to Sonderleiter for another slam.  Ulm's 6-0 close to the first quarter brought them back into the game as they trailed 13-9 at the end of one. 

ratiopharm Ulm wing Sebastian Betz played with energy and effort and made two big shots in the second half. 

As Quarter two began, an Ulm defensive stop led to another transition opportunity.  Unfortunately, Ulm turned the ball over again.  At the other end, Anatoly Kashirov scored through a Sonderleiter foul with a fadeaway three point play from the right block.  Tübingen led 16-9.  Travis Walton scored on a backdoor cut layup for Ulm but Kashirov slammed home two more for the Tigers.  Sean Sonderleiter worked hard on the offensive boards and scored on a putback through contact bringing Ulm within 18-13.  Kashirov scored again for Tübingen but Robin Benzing drew a foul on a drive and sank both free throws pulling Ulm to 20-15 with 7:10 in the half.

ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins goes baseline and under the rim for a dunk over Tübingen center Anatoly Kashirov in the first half of Saturday nights game.

Following Robin's second free throw, an Ulm miscommunication led to a defensive breakdown resulting in a Nicolai Simon right corner three.  Ulm used a timeout at the 6:51 mark trailing 23-15.  Out of the timeout, Robin Benzing posted up strong drawing a foul that led to two more free throws.  Ulm trailed 23-17.  Moments later, Robin buried a three pulling Ulm within three, 23-20 with 5:55 in the half.  Anatoly Kashirov answered for Tubingen but Coleman Collins drove baseline and came under the rim for an emphatic slam keeping Ulm close at 25-22.  Tubingen took a timeout with 5:06 in the quarter.

ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey drives baseline against the Tigers defense Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.

After the timeout, Dane Watts scored on a layup before Lee Humphrey hit a pullup of his own.  Ulm trailed 27-24 with 4:15.  But Tübingen made a run with a right wing three from Nicolai Simon and a runout layup from Clifford Crawford created by a Dane Watts shotblock.  Tubingen rebuilt their lead to 32-24, but Robin Benzing responded with a driving lefty scoop shot using his length to get to the rim.  Coleman Collins goal tended a shot giving Tubingen two points and another Ulm turnover returned the ball to the Tigers that led to 1 of 2 Ratkovica foul shots.  Ulm trailed by ten, 36-26 with 2:50 in the half.  But Ulm fought back as Sebastian Betz drew a foul and made his first free throw.  Although his second rimmed out, Ulm's John Bryant grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on a stickback.  Ulm cut the gap to 36-29 with 2:35 to go.  In a play that symbolized the first half, Ulm defense forced a late clock situation and Tübingen's Chris Oliver hoisted a deep left wing three.  But as the shot bounced high off the back of the rim, a hustling Joe Herbert raced across the floor for a running fullspeed tip in.  Two more Benzing free throws kept Ulm at 38-31 but Herbert hit another jumpshot off a screen giving the Tigers a 40-31 lead.  Robin Benzing made one of two free throws on the next trip.  Missing his second, Ulm regained possession for an endline in bound situation.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther directs the attack Saturday night.  Per finished with 15 points 4 rebounds 3 assists in the hardfought loss.

Ulm huddled in a timeout.  A Robin Benzing three was offline and the clock ticked under one minute in the first half.  Tübingen point guard Branislav Ratkovica drove down the lane for a finger roll layin. But Robin Benzing stepped in to draw a charge and officials awarded the basket to Tübingen but gave Robin two free throws as a result of the loose ball charge.  Robin made both free throws and Ulm trailed 42-34.  With the game clock ticking down, Ulm defense dug in and got a stop.  Point guard Per Gunther exploded into transition racing to the rim.  Unfortunately, Per's layup rimmed out letting yet another opportunity slip away. Strong defense from Basti Betz closed out the first half with ratiopharm Ulm down by 8 points. 

In the halftime lockerroom, Ulm discussed their slow start and their comeback.  Focusing on several coaching points needing attention, Ulm aimed for a strong start to the third quarter and working their way back from the 8 point halftime deficit.  As a team, Ulm shot 33% from the floor making 2 of 7 threes (29%) and 12 of 14 free throws (86%).  Ulm outrebounded the Tigers 25-15 but suffered 9 turnovers to Tübingen's 2.  The Tigers shot 46% from the floor hitting 4 of 15 threes (27%) and 4 of 6 free throws. 

ratiopharm Ulm point guard Travis Walton pushes the ball in transition Saturday night.

As the second half opened, Coleman Collins missed an eblow jumpshot.  At the other end, Coleman went for a steal but collided with Dane Watts picking up a personal foul.  An unconcentrated Tübingen turnover gave Ulm another chance to score first. But Coleman's next attempt midlane also rimmed out.  Ulm's defense recorded another stop that led to a Robin Benzing transition slam.  Both teams exchanged possessions without scoring before Anatoly Kashirov finished in the lane pushing the Tigers up 44-36.

ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing finishes a fast break with a two hand slam in Saturday nights Baden Wurtemburg Derby against rival Tübingen.

Ulm's Per Gunther drilled a top of the key post reaction three cutting the margin to 44-39.  A Per steal gave Ulm another fast break chance but Rocky Trice leaned to finish and just missed his layup.  At the other end, Dane Watts scored on a drive left from the top.  But Robin Benzing responded with a left wing three off a nice skip pass from Per Gunther.  Ulm was down 46-42.  Kashirov came through again this time with a tip in for Tübingen.  Per Gunther sliced to the rim for a layin keeping Ulm on pace, 48-44 with 5:05 in the third.  Two Ratkovica free throws were followed by three straight empty possessions from both teams before John Bryant powered his way to an offensive rebound and two points for Ulm. With 2:27 to go in the third, Ulm trailed 50-46.  But Rocky Trice poked loose a steal that led to an energizing breakaway slam cutting the deficit to two, 50-48.  Tübingen used a timeout.   

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice leans in to finish Saturday night against Tübingen.

Needing a big basket, Tübingen turned to Anatoly Kashirov who scored inside, but ratiopharm Ulm's Sebastian Betz drilled a corner three that trimmed the gap to one, 52-51 with 1:38 in the third.  After another Ulm defensive stop, the next chance rolled off the rim for Ulm as Rocky Trice could not get his layup attempt to go.  Anatoly Kashirov scored on a dive cut giving Tübingen a 54-51 lead.  Sean Sonderleiter forced a shot at the other end and a fifth foul against Ulm sent the Tigers to the charity stripe.  Radovan Markovic hit two free throws and the Tigers led 56-51 with 23.2 seconds in the third.  Using a foul-to-give, Tubingen forced Ulm into a sideline inbound situation with 10 seconds in the quarter.  But ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing stepped up and hit a tough, contested top of the key three energizing Ulm.  After three quarters, Ulm trailed by two 56-54.  It was anybody's ball game.

ratiopharm Ulm captian Lee Humphrey shoots over Tübingen point guard Branislav Ratkovica Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.

In the fourth quarter, Robin Benzing came up with a steal but missed a pullup jumpshot to tie.  Benzing deflected a Tübingen pass forcing a late-clock sideline inbound play for the Tigers.  Markovic used his screens well and eventually attacked the Ulm closeout for a pullup jumpshot middle.  Robin Benzing finished a scoop layup off glass through a foul but could not complete the three point play.  Ulm trailed 58-56 with 8:36 to play. 

ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant finishes a dive cut for two in the second half of Saturday's Baden Wurtemburg Derby against rival Tübingen.

But momentum would change quickly.  After an Anatoly Kashirov layup just rolled off the rim, ratiopharm Ulm's Sean Sonderleiter grabbed the rebound in traffic.  Protecting the basketball from Kashirov, Sean moved the ball to the right away from the Tübingen center.  But Tiger forward Dane Watts snuck up behind Sonderleiter and stole the basketball.  In an immediate response, Sean tackled Watts and the two tumbled to the ground.  Officials whistled an Unsportsmanlike foul immediately.  As both players got up, they exchanged words and began to push and shove.   Other players from both teams quickly raced in as emotions boiled over.   Double technicals were assessed and Sean Sonderleiter fouled out for ratiopharm Ulm.  Tubingen would shoot two free throws plus get the ball.  Watts sank one of two free throws giving Tübingen a 59-56 lead then a Coleman Collins goal tend of a Clifford Crawford drive pushed the Tigers up 61-56. 

ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice finishes a breakaway two hand slam pulling Ulm within two 50-48 late in the third quarter.

Robin Benzing posted up and drew a foul.  7:52 remained.  From the endline play, Robin missed a three.  On defense, Rocky Trice pilfered a Tübingen pass and teammate Travis Walton ran in a 2 on 1 with Trice.  Unfortunately for Ulm, Travis floated a lob pass just behind Rocky forcing him to attempt the alley oop slam with one hand.  The dunk missed and Ulm missed another opportunity.  Moments later, Travis Walton was fouled and made one of two free throws.  With 7 minutes to play, ratiopharm Ulm was down 61-57.  Chris Oliver sank a three for the Tigers extending their advantage to 64-57.  Ulm used a timeout with 6:37 to play. 

ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing finishes an acrobatic AND1 three point play in the second half of Saturday nights Baden Wurtemburg Derby against rival Tübingen. 

Back to action, Ulm's Per Gunther cooly sank two free throws trimming the deficit to 64-59 with 5:54 left.  Ulm's John Bryant forced a tie up and jump ball call giving possession back to Ulm.  Unfortunately, Per Gunther's open three did not connect.  Meanwhile, at the other end, Tiger guard Nicolai Simon sank a big three for his team.  Per Gunther had the answer for Ulm cutting the margin to 67-61.  Nicolai Simon finished a strong left handed layup in the paint giving Tübingen a 69-61 margin.  Ulm called another timeout with 4:39 to play. 

ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther finishes at the rim as part of Ulm's intense comeback effort Saturday night.

As Ulm returned to the floor, the teams exchanged turnovers before Ulm's Per Gunther sank two free throws trimming the gap to 69-63.  Branislav Ratkovica scored on a driving layin and then drew a charge on John Bryant.  A Tübingen turnover led to Robin Benzing drawing a foul and two more free throws that cut the margin to 71-65.  An Ulm steal gave the team more opportunity and Robin Benzing was fouled on the block.  With 2:43 to play, Robin made 1 of 2 from the foul line.  Ulm trailed 71-66.  A Chris Oliver miss led to a strong defensive rebound by John Bryant.  Ulm turned it into a long two point shot from the left corner by Sebastian Betz.   Ulm trailed the Tigers 71-68 with 2:06 to play.  John Bryant blocked a shot and Robin Benzing lost control of the ball and turned it over with 1:49 to play.  At 1:19 Joe Herbert hit a big three for Tubingen pushing their advantage to 74-68.  With 1:09 remaining, John Bryant was fouled and made one of two free throws setting the score at 74-69 for Tubingen.  A strong defensive stop by Ulm led to a John Bryant layup and 74-71 game with 39 seconds left. 

Ulm fouled Chris Oliver with 25 seconds to play. Ulm took their final timeout to set their strategy.  Oliver cooly converted both foul shots but Robin Benzing drilled a right wing three for Ulm.  With 19.5 seconds to play, the score was 76-74.  Tubingen used a timeout.  Ulm trapped the inbound pass but was called for a foul.  Again Oliver made both free throws with 18.6 to play.  Per Gunther went coast to coast for a layin cutting the game to 78-76 with 14.4.  Ulm fouled Oliver again and Oliver made two more free throws with 13 seconds left.  Branislav Ratkovica fouled Per Gunther as he advanced the ball and Per made two key free throws.  Ulm trailed 80-78 with 10.9 seconds left.  Ulm fouled Ratkovica who cooly made both foul shots.  But Ulm's Robin Benzing buried a contested right wing three with 2.1 seconds left.  Ulm trailed by one, 82-81.  In their last effort, Ulm fouled Radovan Markovic with 1.3 seconds remaining.  Markovic made both free throws building a three point lead, but ratiopharm Ulm had one last chance.  Forward Coleman Collins took the ball out as teammates cut all over the court.  Spotting a cutting Per Gunther, Collins fired a nice pass to Per at halfcourt.  With one dribble, Per crossed over passed Tubingen defenders and sent up a runner in the frontcourt before the buzzer.  Ulm's hopes sailed with Per's last second attempt, but the shot bounced hard off the backboard and hit the rim before falling offline like so many of Ulm's shots on the day.  At the final buzzer, Walter Tigers Tübingen could celebrate their hardfought 84-81 Derby win.

Robin Benzing led the Ulm attack with a career high 33 point performance hitting 5 of 10 threes and 12 of 15 free throws.  Per Gunther added a strong 15 point 4 rebound 3 assist game while John Bryant chipped in 7 points 10 rebounds in the loss.  As a team, Ulm shot 38% for the game hitting 8 of 22 threes (36%) and 23 of 29 free throws (79%).  Ulm outrebounded Tübingen 39-37 and after 9 first half turnovers, Ulm suffered 6 for the remainder of the game.  Center Anatoly Kashirov paced the Tigers offense with 22 points 8 boards while Chris Oliver added 15 points 4 rebounds, Branislav Ratkovica had 12 points 6 assists and Nicolai Simon finished with 11 points on 3 for 3 from three.  The Tigers shot 44% hitting 7 of 25 from three (28%) and 19 of 22 from the foul line (86%). 

ratiopharm Ulm's slow start to Saturday nights Baden Wurtemburg Derby came as a result of the teams offensive mistakes and the lack of offensive production applied extra pressure on the teams defense. After ratiopharm Ulm won 100-83 in Tübingen earlier this season, rival Tigers got revenge with their 84-81 road win in Ulm.

An emotional rivalry game is always fantastic to win and disappointing to lose.  For this chapter of the Baden Wurtemburg Derby between rivals ratiopharm Ulm and Walter Tigers Tübingen, the Tigers earned the win.  Ulm returns to action March 9th with a road game against powerful ALBA Berlin atO2 World Arena in Berlin.  Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! 

GO ULM!

MIKE T