TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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TIGERS CLAW ULM!
After three straight road wins in Paul Horn Arena, ratiopharm Ulm came up short in the heated Baden Wurtemburg Derby against rival Walter Tigers Tubingen Wednesday night December 30th. Starting strong, Ulm held a 17-16 lead after one quarter, but a second quarter Tiger run gave the hosts a 44-34 halftime advantage. Ulm trimmed the gap early in the second half, but a key Tubingen run helped the Tigers take control of the game late in the third. Christian Burns led Ulm's attack with 21 points 7 rebounds while Robin Benzing added 16. Tubingen protected their home court as the Tigers clawed Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm's Austen Rowland draws contact from Walter Tiger Tubingen post player Dane Watts in the Baden Wurtemburg Derby.
click here for Box score
click here for Ulm fan club photo gallery from Ulm @ Tubingen
click here for Tubingen Tagblatt photo gallery from Ulm @ Tubingen
After a home win over defending Bundesliga champions Ewe Baskets Oldenburg in their Christmas Game, ratiopharm Ulm prepared for their Derby with Tubingen with focus and confidence. Working to build on their strong team performance in the 100-82 home win Saturday night December 26th, Ulm also entered this chapter of the Baden Wurtemburg Derby with confidence after winning three consecutive road games in Tubingen over the last three seasons.
ratiopharm Ulm's John Bryant blocking out against Walter Tigers Tubingen forwards Aleksandar Nadjfeji and Romeo Travis
Three full fan busses of fired up Ulm supporters traveled the short hour drive southwest of Stuttgart for Wednesday nights event. As fans filled the Paul Horn Arena, energy filled the air before tipoff. Chants, drums, signs and slurs were exchanged with intensity in the stands well before elbows or baskets were exchanged on the floor. The pre-game environment and intensity of the rivalry between ratiopharm Ulm and Walter Tigers Tubingen demonstrated why the Baden Wurtemburg Derby is the best rivalry in the Bundesliga.
ratiopharm Ulm fans in full effect at the Baden Wurtemburg Derby at Paul Horn Arena in Tubingen.
At the center of the Derby this season, former Ulm forward Romeo Travis would be in the starting lineup with Walter Tigers Tubingen. A key player for this seasons Tiger team, Travis started at the small forward for Ulm last year but changed alliegences this summer. Showered with both cheers and boos, no player was greeted with a louder welcome during player introduction as battle lines were drawn from fans for both sides.
At tip off, Ulm and Tubingen worked to settle into the action as the energy and excitement of the Derby charged through the arena. After several empty possessions, Ulm's Lee Humphrey hit a baseline pullup jumper from the left corner giving Ulm the games first basket. Humphrey hit another midrange J and Ulm's strong start powered the guests to a 10-4 early advantage. Tubingen began to establish themselves into the game as Romeo Travis stepped up for his new Tiger team. Physical, aggressive pressure defense from Tubingen guards began to influence the game as Ulm suffered several uncharacteristic turnovers. Creating fastbreak opportunities from the Ulm mistakes, Tubingen capitalized on their opportunities and made plays. At the end of the first quarter, Ulm held onto a 17-16 lead.
As Quarter two began, momentum built for Tubingen. A 7-0 run pushed the Tigers ahead 25-19 early in the second. Ulm turnovers gave the Tigers easy opportunities. At the five minute mark, Tubingen held a 30-25 lead. Lee Humphrey drilled two key three point shots helping keep Ulm's attack afloat and pulling Ulm within two at 27-25. Tubignen responded with a run of their own rebuilding their advantage to 39-28 and 42-31 before rookie forward Robin Benzing sank an important late first half three energizing his team. Ulm worked to hold off the run, but the strong second quarter gave the Tigers a 44-34 halftime lead.
At the half, Ulm faced a ten point deficit trailing 44-34 against their rival Walter Tigers Tubingen. Expecting a 40 minute rivalry game, Ulm viewed the 10 point margin as managable and focused for improved play in the second half. Tubingen's pressure defense forced 10 first half turnovers from Ulm and the Tigers held an advantage at the foul line making 9 of 15 free throws compared with Ulm's 3 of 6. Ulm had outrebounded Tubingen 22-16 which was positive, but the key to the game revolved around taking care of the ball and creating good shots against Tubingen's pressure.
As the second half opened, Ulm emerged from their lockerroom focused and ready. Immediately, Christian Burns went strong to the basket and scored in the lane. Slicing the deficit in half, within one minute of action in the third quarter, Ulm was down only five 49-44. Tubingen called a timeout. The key stretch in this chapter of the Baden Wurtemburg Derby played out immediately after this early second half timeout. Tubingen burst on a run that re-established their lead. Michael Jenkins forced turnovers with pressure defense and the Tigers pushed their cushion to 14, up 59-45 with five minutes to play in the third. Ulm stopped the run in a timeout and refocused on teamwork against defensive pressure. A 6-0 Ulm mini-run sparked by a Coleman Collins slam and a Rocky Trice's one-man-press that stole the inbound pass leading to a quick lay-in cuting the gap to 59-51. But a Branislav Ratkovica three pointer brought the Tiger crowd into the game and pushed the margin to 11 once again at 62-51 with 3 minutes remaining in the third. Tubingen finished the third quarter 11-7 and the Tigers took a 73-58 lead into the fourth.
Ulm's efforts in the fourth gained little ground. Changing defenses, attacking the Tigers in different areas, using different lineups, speeding up the game, Ulm could not put together another run. On the other end, Tubingen generated momentum. After three straight road wins in the heated Baden Wurtemburg Derby, ratiopharm Ulm tasted defeat for the first time at Paul Horn Arena as the Tigers celebrated their 94-78 Derby win.
At the final buzzer, Ulm could simply tip their cap to the Tigers who played better on the evening. Ulm finished with a better shooting percentage from the floor, but turnovers and the disadvantage at the foul line proved to be the difference in this edition of the classic Baden Wurtemburg Derby.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by Christian Burns who finished with 21 points 7 rebounds while Robin Benzing buried 3 of 5 threes for 16 points and Lee Humphrey hit 2 of 4 triples for 10. As a team, Ulm shot 52% from the floor making 7 of 18 threes (39%) and 15 of 26 free throws (58%). Tubingen outrebounded Ulm 37-33 and enjoyed an advantage at the foul line making 24 of 34 foul shots 9 more makes than Ulm. The Tigers intense defense also forced 19 Ulm turnovers to Tubingen's 9.
Former Ulm forward Romeo Travis stole the spotlight of the Derby with an excellent 25 point 9 rebound night while Michael Jenkins was also in top form scoring 20 with 5 steals. Point guard Bransilav Ratkovica added 17 points 6 assists and 4 of 9 from three.
After three straight road wins in Tubingen, ratiopharm Ulm tips their cap to Tubingen for the Tigers excellent effort in Wednesday nights Baden Wurtemburg Derby. Taking time to enjoy Sylvester and New Year celebrations, ratiopharm Ulm returns to practice on New Years night resetting their sights for this weekends road trip to Bonn. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
