TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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BOUNCING BACK!
RATIOPHARM ULM SHOWS HEART; WINS IN BREMERHAVEN!
After Friday nights 28 point home debacle against Dusseldorf, no one expected ratiopharm Ulm to win in Bremerhaven. But ratiopharm Ulm rallied together and played with tremendous heart in earning a hardfought 85-80 road win over the Eisbaren Sunday afternoon at Stadthalle Bremerhaven. Christian Burns led the Ulm attack with a 22 point 7 rebound performance while Per Gunther and Coleman Collins added 14 points apiece, Lee Humphrey hit 3 of 5 threes for 12 points and Rocky Trice finished with 11 points 4 boards 5 steals in the Ulm win. Ulm's young team showed tremendous heart in their 'bounce back win' Sunday in Bremerhaven.
ratiopharm Ulm's Coleman Collins fouls former Ulm forward Jeff Gibbs in Sunday's game at Stadthalle Bremerhaven.
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ratiopharm Ulm's Christian Burns (23) and John Bryant defend as Bremerhaven's Kevin Lyde works to score inside.
After an injury-filled preseason, challenging early season schedule, disappointing road loss in Hagen and slow start to the new season, the young ratiopharm Ulm team hit rock bottom in Friday nights 28 point home debacle against Dusseldorf. Frustrated after losing composure at several small mistakes against Dusseldorf, Ulm's young team regrouped on Saturday before their long road trip to the North Sea. Flying up on game-day, Ulm used their Saturday for rest after a video session and game plan practice in the afternoon. Sunday's trip was excuted perfectly as the team flew from Memmingen to Bremen where they were picked up by the double-decker team bus and continued on toward Bremerhaven. Focused and ready, ratiopharm Ulm huddled in their pre-game lockerroom. While coaches and management have believed in their young team, it was time for the young team to begin to believe in themselves.
ratiopharm Ulm's Coleman Collins rotates to challenge Bremerhaven's Lou Campbell in Sundays game.
At tip off, the physical and big Bremerhaven team asserted themselves. Ranked third in the Beko Bundesliga standings coming into Sunday's game, Bremerhaven was extremely confident riding the momentum of their 26 point friday road win in Tubingen. But, ratiopharm Ulm's team was focused. After Ulm shot 1 for 24 from three point range friday night against Dusseldorf, captain Lee Humphrey drilled his first three pointer of the game giving Ulm a 4-2 lead. Moments later, Ulm point guard Per Gunther buried a top of the key three off a Bremerhaven turnover sparking Ulm to a 7-2 lead. But the strong Bremerhaven inside game established itself as the home team battled back. A 10-2 run gave the Eisbaren a 12-9 lead. Bremerhaven extended their early lead to 15-11 and Ulm called their first timeout of the game. Responding to the Eisbaren run, the Ulm bench maintained their composure and control fighting back to take the lead on a Sebastian Betz right wing three. Ulm led 21-20 with one minute in the first quarter. But after the Eisbaren evened the score at 21, a left corner three from Jan Lipke seconds before the first quarter buzzer gave the home team the lead. Bremerhaven held a 24-21 advantage after one.
ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther works off a Christian Burns ballscreen in Sunday's game. Per ran Ulm's team extremely well directing the offensive attack with control and composure.
As quarter two opened, Ulm made a run. Taking a 31-26 lead, Ulm's 10-2 early second quarter surge let Bremerhaven know they came to play. Ulm maintained their lead throughout the first half. Per Gunther continued his excellent play as he sank two three pointers and dished out four assists in the first half. Coleman Collins energized his team dunking over Bremerhaven's Adrian Moss moments after Bremerhaven's Brandon Brooks hammered a transition slam over an Ulm defender. Changing their defenses and creating turnovers, Ulm outscored Bremerhaven 18-14 in the second quarter to take a 39-38 halftime lead.
ratiopharm Ulm's Lee Humphrey (22) and John Bryant challenge Bremerhaven's Brandon Brooks in Sunday's game.
At the half, Ulm had played with the poise and composure that was missing from Friday nights loss. Shooting 46% from the floor and hitting 6 of 15 threes (40%), Ulm had more accurate shooting percentages for their team and 11 assists in the first twenty minutes. Bremerhaven had hit 48% from the field and made 4 of 11 threes (35%) while outrebounding Ulm 22-15. Feeling good about their effort at the halfway point, Ulm returned to the floor understanding the Eisbaren would make a run. The challenge for the for Ulm's team became playing with composure and control. A terrific opportunity to make a step forward together, Ulm was focused to bounce back from Friday's poor performance with teamwork and heart.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Coleman Collins played a key role in his teams success on Sunday with hardwork on the boards and physical defense.
As the second half opened, Bremerhaven's Rodney Buford sparked a 7-0 Eisbaren run. Two Buford three point shots led to a 45-39 Bremerhaven lead. Ulm used a timeout. Responding with a late third quarter run of their own, ratiopharm Ulm's 9-0 run pulled the inspired Ulm team back in the game. Highlighting the phase was a beautiful halfcourt alley oop pass from Ulm's Kevin Kanaskie that was hammered home by Rocky Trice. But as the game tightened at the end of the third and Ulm reclaimed the lead, Bremerhaven's Bryan Lucas buried a quarter ending buzzer beating three from the left wing off excellent Eisbaren ballmovement helping the hosts to a 58-56 advantage going into the fourth.
Official Robert Lottermoser assesses a technical foul against Bremerhaven's Jeff Gibbs in Sunday's game.
In the fourth, Ulm earned the win. Power Forward Chrisitan Burns hit several big shots including two left wing threes. Burns also made a beautiful ballreversal extra pass from the left wing to a wide open Robin Benzing in the left corner. The talented rookie forward drilled the open three giving Ulm a five point lead 63-58. Per Gunther followed with a strong driving finish pushing Ulm's advantage to 65-58. During the stretch, former Ulm forward Jeff Gibbs was active on the boards and got to the foul line helping his new team come back. But as Gibbs got his steps along the baseline rising up for a power dunk, Ulm captain Lee Humphrey gave everything he had in jumping up to block 'Mr Incredible'. After Humphrey's first career professional block, Jeff complained to officials along the baseline and was assessed a technical foul. Ulm used the momentum to their advantage and capitalized to build on their lead. With four minutes to play, Ulm held a 71-65 lead. But Bremerhaven would not go down without a fight. Rodney Buford drilled a key three pulling the Eisbaren within one 73-72. At the other end, Ulm's Lee Humphrey stepped up and sank a clutch right wing three lifting Ulm into a 76-72 lead with 2:18 to play. Down the stretch, Ulm's Rocky Trice and Christian Burns extended the Ulm lead from the foul line. But Bremerhaven continued their comeback attempt. After a Bremerhaven three pointer cut the deficit to 83-77, Ulm used their final timeout with under one minute to play. Getting exactly what they wanted from their midcourt out of bounds play, Rocky Trice broke open alone toward the Eisbaren basket. Coleman Collins fed a perfect pass and Trice opted to dribble out the clock manuevering to the right corner. Unfortunately for Ulm, Trice lost the ball and the turnover led to a transition three trimming the lead to 83-80 with 16 seconds to play. Two free throws and a missed Bremerhaven three filled the final seconds and Ulm claimed their hard-earned 85-80 road win over the strong Bremerhaven team.
ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey steps to the foul line for technical free throws after blocking a Jeff Gibbs dunk attempt in the second half of Sunday's road win in Bremerhaven.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by Christian Burns' 22 point 7 rebound performance while Per Gunther and Coleman Collins added 14 points apiece, Lee Humphrey hit 3 of 5 threes for 12 points and Rocky Trice finished with 11 points 4 boards 5 steals. Rodney Buford and Kevin Lyde shared topscoring honors for the Eisbaren while former Ulm forward Jeff Gibbs added 13 points 3 rebounds before fouling out. As a team Ulm shot 52% from the floor, hit 10 for 21 threes (48%) and made 13 of 25 free throws (52%). A mark of their team play, Ulm dished out 20 assists as a team. Bremerhaven hit 47% from the floor making 11 of 26 threes (42%) and 13 of 22 from the foul line (59%). Bremerhaven outrebounded Ulm 37-28. More important than any statistic, the ratiopharm Ulm team rallied together in the face of Friday's adversity showing tremendous heart to earn the hardfought 'bounce back' win in Bremerhaven.
Showing tremendous heart Sunday fighting back from Friday's debacle against Dusseldorf, ratiopharm Ulm Head coach Mike Taylor took great pride in how Ulm's players bounced back to win in Bremerhaven.
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GO ULM!
MIKE T
