Ratiopharm Ulm and the Würzburg Baskets delivered a spectacular game at the start of the playoff semi-finals. Ulm won very thinly after overtime.
It is the new edition of the quarter -final from the pre -season. Ulm is again favorite against Würzburg. The first game was highly competitive. In the end, Ulm won the overtime thriller with 91:87.
Ulm is better in a nervous first quarter
The game begins rather bumpy with a point from the free -wire line for Karim Jallow and two points from Fabian Bleck. But then it works very quickly. A Dunk of Jallow, a successful quick attack by Ben Saraf. Ulm is in the game and the sold-out hall is in semi-finals after just two minutes. Würzburg takes several minutes to find the game. A very open threesome from Bazou Kone is a first, small can opener. As a result, the guests always have a lot of effort into the ball lecture. Würzburg rarely gets simple points. A nervous first quarter ends with a well -deserved Ulm lead (24:16).
Ulm further ahead, but not sovereign
The Würzburg game structure also has a lot of trouble in the second quarter with the Ulm defense. And Ulm benefits from a super superior Noa Essengue. The young Frenchman is already on the scoreboard with ten points after twelve minutes. This is followed by the Baskets’s best minute, thanks to their nimble attacking game. Three fast baskets bring Würzburg to 25:29. Ulm’s coach Ty Harrelson takes the time out.
From the middle of the second quarter it goes back and forth. The 6000 fans in the Neu-Ulmer Arena see a rapid basketball game. Ulm should feel higher up to half -time. However, the Ulm lead is only eight points (45:37). This is not a big cushion against Würzburger, who repeatedly showed their comeback capabilities in the quarter-final series against Braunschweig.
Exciting, not always high -class
Ulm comes out of the cabin with more power. Six fast Ulm points let the hall bubble again. A challenge by Ty Harrelson ensures a long interruption. He wants to have a foul from Jensen checked Jackson. However, the referees remain in their first decision. With “MVP, MVP” response choirs, the approximately 200 traveled Würzburg fans celebrate the then transformed free throws. The game is now becoming rough and bumpy. Ball losses and false throws determine the next few minutes. Ratiopharm Ulm fails to pull away. The Würzburg Baskets are not really closer. The game now lives from the tension – not of the quality. As after the first two quarters, Ulm is three eight points ahead of the passage (64:56).
Tension until the last second!
With a 7-0 run, Würzburg goes to the last quarter. Ulm is only a dot in front of the 64:63. Ty Harrelson wants to stop the Würzburg Run with a break. Ulm shakes now. And Würzburg, who won game five against Braunschweig three days ago, suddenly has better body language. The game is completely open again three minutes before the end (66:66). Jessup and Lewis meet for both teams with a threesome, Steinbach and Essengue Patzen.
Drama in the crunch-time! The Ulm scratch the ball from their own ring by rebound, Jessup meets 73:71 lead in front. Time out Würzburg! There are still 75 seconds on the clock. Seljaas succeeds. Extension!
Essengue and Jessup decide the game
At first, no team can settle in the overtime. It is Noa Essengue who opened the final with a threesome 45 seconds before the end. Jessup contributes two free throws. Lewis can shorten again with a four-point game, but in the end the home team is just 91:87 with further Essengue and Saraf points. Ulm leads 1-0 in the series against Würzburg. What a start!
Essengue was top scorer for Ulm, Lewis with 23 points of the best Würzburger.
First home game for Würzburg on Wednesday
The semi -finals between Ulm and Würzburg will continue next Wednesday. Then Würzburg has his first home game in the series. The second home game for Ulm will take place next Saturday. The winner of the semi -finals is who first wins three games. In the final, the winner of the semi -finals between Bayern Munich and the Academics Heidelberg are waiting for Ulm or Würzburg.
Prize on Monday, 2.6:2025 6:30 a.m., SWR4 BW Studio Ulm
