MLP Academics Heidelberg showed why they are the best road team in the league by rallying from 19 points down to beat first placed ratiopharm ulm 69-67 and take over the top spot in the easyCredit BBL. Heidelberg used a 30-8 run spanning the final two quarters to bounce back from their disappointing loss in the German BBL Cup Quarter-Finals. Danny Jansson 's team grabbed their fourth straight win in the Bundesliga for an 8-3 record and 5-1 on the road. DJ Horne and Erol Ersek led the way with 14 points. Ulm fell apart after having the big lead early in the third quarter to suffer their first home loss and fall to 7-3, including 5-1 at home. Ulm had won their last five games in total - including the BKT EuroCup - and four of five in the league since the monster road trip. Alfonso Plummer’s 12 points were not enough.
Game Summary: Ulm picked up the first four points of the game but Heidelberg had the better start with Erol Ersek and Mateo Seric combining for 13 points in building a 16-10 lead, which extended to 20-12. Ulm punched back with eight straight points - on three-point plays from Karim Jallow and Ben Saraf - to knot the game 20-20. But it was Heidelberg who led 22-20 after 10 minutes. Ulm continued the momentum in the second quarter with the first six points and then buried two triples in a 10-2 run for the first double-digit lead at 36-26. Nelson Weidemann knocked down a second three-pointer and Ulm were leading 43-29. And the hosts were up 48-33 at the break.
Ulm extended the lead to 19 points - 52-33 - to start the second half as Heidelberg failed to score for more than 3 minutes. The guests mounted a comeback with the next 10 points and pulled within 55-47. Alfonso Plummer hit two triples for the hosts, who fought hard to stay ahead and led 60-50 after three quarters. Heidelberg kept up their strong play to start the final frame with the first 13 points - six of them by Michael Weathers and a DJ Horne triple to put the guests ahead 63-60. Ulm committed seven turnovers in the quater before finally scoring their first points of the final frame with 3:11 minutes to play on two Isaiah Roby free throws. Alex Barcello knocked a triple and the guests pushed the advantage to 66-62. After a Justian Jessup layup for the hosts, Horne came up with the dagger three-pointer with 7.1 seconds left to make it 69-64.
Numbers Please: Heidelberg forced Ulm into 20 turnovers and also held the number one three-point shooting team in the league to just 29 percent from long range - 10 percentage points below their average. Heidelberg collected 20 second chance points to just 5 for Ulm and also took the points off turnovers category 16-8.
Player of the Game: DJ Horne missed his first five three-pointers of the game but came up when it mattered most. He came off the bench with two big triples in the final 5 minutes - including the dagger to decide the game. All told, Horne tallied 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
The Germans: Mateo Seric had 9 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist for Heidelberg while Karim Jallow collected 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal and Nelson Weidemann added 8 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal in the loss.
Also Newsworthy Part 1: Heidelberg did not just take over first place in the standings but they also grabbed their first ever win over Ulm in the Bundesliga. They had lost all six of their previous contests against Ulm.
Also Newsworthy Part 2: Ulm were playing their last home game before Christmas so head coach Ty Harrelson pulled out a special Christmas sweater.
What's Up Next: Ulm next take the court in the BKT EuroCup with an important game at home against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius on Wednesday December 18. Ty Harrelson’s men then play at SKYLINERS in the Bundesliga on Monday December 23. Heidelberg’s next game is at home on Sunday December 22 when they welcome Bamberg Baskets.
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.
