Ulm scored a season-high 102 points and is in a strong spot to make playoffs
Ulm's offense shined with passing, sharing the load
ratiopharm Ulm’s offense was purring in Round 11 as Coach Ty Harrelson’s team poured in a season-high 102 points thanks to unusually strong inside scoring.
Ulm grabbed its third straight victory by winning 88-102 at Joventut Badalona and has a 7-4 record - even with Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul in third place and three wins ahead of the first team outside the playoff zone.
"It’s an important win for us. We want to be in the playoffs and it’s another step in that direction," said Ulm’s talented young point guard Ben Saraf, who scored a career-high 18 points to go with 2 rebounds and 3 assists. "We executed what coach told us to do. We played aggressive and controlled the rebounds - that’s what gave us the W."
Saraf was one of seven players to score at least 8 points for Ulm, which came into the game averaging 85.0 points per game.
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"The strength of our team is all 12 guys playing together and sharing the basketball, playing unselfishly but then also being able to make the one-on-one plays," said Harrelson.
Ulm shot 62.9% on two-pointers - a drastic improvement on its 50.7% clip entering the game as the second-worst team in that category. Ulm also drained 11 of 22 three-pointers - which was not unexpected as the German side ranked fifth in three-point shooting at 36.6% entering the game.
Ulm did not exactly shine on defense though, but the relatively inexperienced team has been struggling with that all season - ranking last in 90.0 points per game allowed and 60.0% on two-pointers. And Joventut made 66.7% of its close range attempts.
The main thing for Harrelson is the team grabbed a road victory.
"Any time we can go on the road in the EuroCup and steal a win I think it’s very important for us. As we gain more experience and get more time together I feel like the team is playing better each week," said the American, whose team is now 4-3 away from home this season.