ratiopharm ulm picked up a big road victory as the regular season closes by knocking off MLP Academics Heidelberg 90-74 to snap a three-game road losing streak. Ulm pulled away with a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter to improve to 21-9 and add the pressure on first place FC Bayern Munich. Ben Saraf paced five Ulm players in double figures with 17 points. Heidelberg are slumping at the worst time with four straight defeats for a 16-14 mark. The hosts could not use Ryan Mikesell's 20 points.
Game Summary: Ryan Mikesell started hot with 3 three-pointers and Heidelberg led 11-8. The game went back and forth with eight lead changes and Heidelberg were up 18-17 after 10 minutes. Ulm reclaimed the lead to start the second quarter and used tough defense to push the lead to 27-21. The cushion was 33-27 before Bakary Dibba threw down a big dunk and three-pointer and then Marcel Keßen’s triple made it 35-34 for the hosts. Ulm punched back to lead and were up 38-27 at halftime.
Mikesell’s hot night continued with another triple to put Heidelberg ahead only to have Ulm reel off six straight points to lead 44-40. The hosts answered with seven straight points and led 50-47. Ulm punched back with a 13-1 surge to lead 60-51. And the cushion was 65-56 after 30 minutes. Alfonso Plummer’s free throws to start the fourth increased the advantage to 67-56. Michael Weathers sparked a comeback with seven points in a 14-4 Heidelberg surge to pull within 71-70. Ulm bent but did not break and put Heidelberg away with a 15-2 run to lead 86-72 with 2 minutes left
Numbers Please: Ulm shot down Heidelberg with just 39 percent shooting while hitting 51 percent themselves and committing only 10 turnovers.
Player of the Game: Ben Saraf did some of everything for Ulm with a team-high 17 points to go with 3 rebounds, 4 assist and 3 steals.
The Germans: Karim Jallow poured in 13 points with 8 rebounds while Philipp Herkenhoff and Nelson Weidemann both scored 11 points for the winners. At the other end, Heidelberg were without star big man Osun Osunniyi and Marcel Keßen stepped up in his place, scoring 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds to tie his season high in points.
Ulm finally score on the road: Ulm came into the game on fire at home with nine straight victories at the ratiopharm arena - topping 100 points in the last six games and averaging 112.0 points. But Ulm had dropped the last three road games and not scored more than 72 points. Ty Harrelson's men will be happy to have poured in 90 points away from home.
Ulm get revenge for only home loss: Ulm gladly will head back home with a win after waiting more than three months to make up for their only home loss of the season. Heidelberg beat Ulm 69-67 in mid-December as they rallied from 19 points down in the third quarter. Ulm ended up scoring only 7 points in the fourth quarter, losing on a DJ Horne dagger three-pointer with 7 seconds left.
What's Up Next: Heidelberg have a big next game as they travel to FIT/One Würzburg Baskets on Wednesday May 7 and then end the regular season at home against SKYLINERS on Sunday May 11. Ulm meanwhile will host Bamberg Baskets in their next game on Thursday May 8 before the regular season ends with a road game against Veolia Towers Hamburg on Sunday May 11.
Video: Highlights of this game will be available soon on Dyn's website or here on Dyn's YouTube channel.
Anmerkung: In der Saison 2024/25 werden wie hier auch gelegentlich Nachberichte in englischer Sprache verfasst.
Note: During the 2024-25 season, there will occasionally be game reports published in English.
