Undeservedly high 69:92 loss for medi Bayreuth at ratiopharm ulm

The 32nd game day in the easyCredit German Basketball League ended with a defeat on the road for medi Bayreuth. The team of Head Coach Raoul Korner lost at ratiophram ulm by 69:92 (37:47) on Saturday evening.

The losing margin was too high in the end in front of the 6,200 crowd in the sold-out ratiopharm arena. With seconds remaining in the third period, the HEROES OF TOMORROW trailed by just 53:56 and were still in with a promising chance, but then the home side surged 64:83 ahead in the space of just under six minutes to seal the encounter and also qualify for the playoffs before the season has ended.

Head Coach Raoul Korner began with the recuperated Hassan Martin in the starting five for the encounter on the 32nd game day. Neither side’s shots seemed to really want to drop to begin with and it was clear that important points were at stake and so the two teams were nervous. However, ratiopharm ulm then got into the game better, especially in the shape of Ismet Akpinar, whereas medi Bayreuth was again caught napping at the start. The home side took the first quarter by 24:17.

The picture hardly changed in the second period. The home side under Head Coach Thorsten Leibenath continued to notch up high shooting percentages (50% from the three-point line), whereas the HEROES OF TOMORROW had problems in both offense and defense. However, Kassius Robertson was one of the rays of light for medi Bayreuth. The shooting guard was able to keep his team in the game with important points. Nevertheless, Bayreuth went in at half-time trailing by 37:47.

After the break, the players of Head Coach Raoul Korner displayed their better side and were able to catch up point by point. In particular Nik Raivio impressed with good actions in this spell and so his team sliced the deficit to just three points with seconds left in the third period. However, Isaac Fotu promptly struck back with a bucket from beyond the arc to enable his team to take a 59:53 advantage into the final quarter.

However, the HEROES OF TOMORROW were then no longer able to maintain their performance from the third period. Ulm proved too clinical and commanding, also thanks to a strong 3-point field goal percentage (46%), whereas nothing seemed to go right anymore for medi. Ulm finally ran out comfortable winners by 92:69 to secure a playoff berth.

Raoul Korner commented: “We were within three points with 11 minutes left, then Fotu drained a three and we were six down going into the final period. Although we were in a comfortable position, we didn’t manage to turn the game around. The winning margin ended up being too wide since we were simply too hectic in the final five minutes and Ulm played out the game in very commanding fashion. Congratulations to Ulm and I wish it every success in the playoffs.”

Source: https://www.medi-bayreuth.de/