Ulm plays spoiler vs Unicaja, hands first place to Metropolitans

ratiopharm Ulm finished its 7DAYS EuroCup season on a high note by knocking off Unicaja Malaga 90-94 and playing spoiler in the final Group B standings. Dylan Osetkowski scored 25 points, including the game-deciding three-pointer, for Ulm, whose victory meant that Unicaja would finish second in the group with a 7-3 mark and Boulogne Metropolitans 92 grabbed first place. Troy Caupain added 20 points and Demetrius Conger chipped in 14 points as Ulm finished with a 4-6 mark. The club went into the game knowing it had already been eliminated from contention for the Top 16. Unicaja was paced by Francis Alonso scoring 22 points while Adam Waczynski had 13 points, Axel Bouteille 12, Volodymyr Gerun 10 points and Dario Brizuela chipped in 11 points and 8 assists. Unicaja had won its previous two games and six of the last seven.

Deon Thompson opened the game with a jumper and was followed by a pair of Alonso three-pointers for an 8-2 early lead. Osetkowski was Ulm's big weapon with a three-pointer as well as 4 free throws to keep the guests within 16-15. Waczynski and Carlos Suarez both hit three-pointers as the margin grew to 24-15. It was 24-17 after 10 minutes. Waczynski’s three-pointer to start the second quarter made it a double-digit lead at 27-17. Andreas Obst drained a triple and John Petrucelli’s three-point play helped get Ulm within 33-29 only to see Bouteille’s three make it 38-29. Ulm finished the first half in outstanding fashion with Trey Landers, Isaiah Wilkins and Conger all converting three-point plays and Thomas Klepeisz draining a three-pointer in a 7-22 run to lead 45-51 at the break.

Alonso’s three-pointer started the second half and an 8-0 run to go ahead 53-51. Caupain’s three-pointer came at the other end after nearly 3 minutes, but Waczynski answered from deep and Ruben Guerrero made it 58-54. Ulm would not go away and 5 more free throws knotted the game 63-63. Gerun came up with a big three-point play and Alonso and Suarez both hit foul shots as the hosts led 71-66. It was 71-68 after 30 minutes. Suarez hit a triple early in the final frame and Bouteille’s three-pointer had Unicaja ahead 79-74. Caupain and Osetkowski kept punching back, but Brizuela’s three-pointer made it 82-78. Osetkowski would not be denied with 5 more points and a layup to push Ulm ahead 82-84. Bouteille responded with another triple, but Caupain came back with 5 more points for an 87-91 lead. Ater Bouteille hit yet another three-pointer, Osetkowski answered once more with a triple to seal the game.

End of Osetkowski’s strong EuroCup debut

Ulm’s regular-season exit meant the end of a strong EuroCup debut campaign for Dylan Osetkowski, who collected 25 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and an index rating of 24. The 24-year-old big man scored more than 17 points eight times, including 32 points against Germani Brescia, corralled 7 or more rebounds in five games and dished out at least 3 assists in five games.

Free throw record for Ulm

Ulm went to the line 37 times and connected on 32 of them - both setting club records. The 32 makes topped the 27 free throws the German club hit against Herbalife Gran Canaria in October 2017. And the 37 attempts eclipsed the 35 foul shots against Galatasaray Istanbul in November 2018.

Alonso continues great first season

Francisco Alonso continued to excel in his first season in the EuroCup. He scored a career-high 22 points, including knocking down 3 three-pointers. Alonso, who went to the United States to play college basketball for three seasons and then started his professional career with Fuenlabrada last season, is averaging 14.8 points a game while shooting 48.5% on three-pointers.

Telling numbers

Ulm’s 32 made free throws made up for hitting just 4 of 15 three-pointers (26.7%), while Unicaja connected on 14 of 35 three-pointers (40.0%), but only 12 of 19 free throws (63.2%). Despite committing 12 turnovers to Unicaja’s 10, Ulm collected 17 points off the turnovers to Unicaja’s 11 points.