Buducnost books Top 16 ticket with win in Ulm

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica erased a double-digit deficit to book its ticket to the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 with a 73-77 victory at ratiopharm Ulm. Melvin Ejim led the way with 20 points and 9 rebounds and Nikola Ivanovic had 19 points as Buducnost improved to 5-3 in Group B. Justin Cobbs added 11 points and 5 assists for the winners, who trailed by 12 points in the second quarter. Ulm fell to 3-6 despite Dylan Osetkowski collecting 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Newly-added Demitrius Conger scored 15 points and John Petrucelli and Troy Caupain both scored 11 points in the loss.

Petrucelli opened the game with a jumper and Osetkowski’s three-pointer made it 5-0. Ejim and Danilo Nikolic both hit triples at the other end to help Buducnost grab its first lead 7-8. Ulm kept the visitors scoreless for more than 3 minutes and Eric Holman, Conger and Andi Obst all drained three-pointers in a 15-2 run to surge ahead 22-10. The lead was 24-12 after 10 minutes. Dragan Apic scored the first points of the second quarter and Ejim trimmed it to 24-16 before Ulm finally scored on Caupain’s free throws after more than 3 minutes. Suad Sehovic knocked down 2 three-pointers, but Conger’s triple still had Ulm up double figures 32-22. Ivanovic had been scoreless for the first 16 minutes, but scored 6 points in a 3-15 run to close the first half as Buducnost was up 35-37 at the break.

Ivanovic picked up where he left off in the second quarter with Buducnost’s first two baskets in the second half. An Ejim three-pointer had the guests up 39-44. Petrucelli answered with the next 5 points to knot the game and his dunk put Ulm back ahead 49-48. The hosts were held scoreless for the final 3 minutes and Ivanovic’s triple had Buducnost up 49-55 after 30 minutes. Caupain hit first in the fourth quarter to end the drought only to see Danilo Nikolic and Cobbs both drain triples as the Buducnost cushion swelled to 53-61. Osetkowski and Conger both connected from deep and Holman’s dunk got Ulm within 63-67. Danilo Nikolic countered with another big three-pointer and Cobbs hit as Buducnost kept Ulm at arm’s length at 65-72. Osetkowski’s layup trimmed it to 67-72 inside the final minute and Buducnost picked up just 1 free throw in the next three possessions. Petrucelli free throws made it 71-73 with 17 seconds to play, but Ivanovic buried free throws with 15 seconds remaining to ice the game.

Back to Top 16

Buducnost is back in the Top 16 after failing to get out of the regular season in 2019-20. The club reached the quarterfinals in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2017-18.

Pivotal performer

Melvin Ejim was great all game for Buducnost, scoring a career-high 20 points while also grabbing 8 rebounds for a performance index rating of 25.

Telling numbers

Buducnost connected on 11 of 20 three-pointers (55.0%) while Ulm shot 35.7% from deep.

Next games

Buducnost has another game this week when it hosts Boulogne Metropolitans 92 on Friday in a Round 7 makeup game. Ulm's next game will be its last of the regular season at Unicaja Malaga on Thursday, December.