Dominion BB keeps Ulm winless, remains alive

Dominion Bilbao Basket remains alive for a spot in the Eurocup Eighthfinals after an 83-65 victory at home over ratiopharm Ulm, to set up a Group G face-off with Banvit Bandirma in Round 6 to decide which team advances. Dairis Bertans knocked down 4 three-pointers in scoring a team-high 18 points for Dominion BB, while Axel Hervelle had 14 points, Alex Mumbru scored 11 and Giorgos Bogris collected 10 points and 12 rebounds. Dominion improved to 3-2 in the group and will play at Banvit next week – with Banvit having won the first encounter in Bilbao 76-85 in Round 2. Ulm remained winless in the group at 0-5 despite 10 points from Pierria Henry, with Philipp Neumann chipping in 8 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Bertans opened the game with the first 5 points for the hosts before Augustine Rubit scored Ulm’s first 2 points. Bertans knocked down his second three as the lead grew to 10-2. Chris Babb countered with the first basket to start a 0-9 run to go ahead 10-11. Alex Suarez and Bertans both were on target from long range and Dominion led 16-11 after 10 minutes. After failing to score in final three minutes of the first quarter, Raymar Morgan converted for the guests on the first possession of the second frame. But Tobias Borg answered with a three-point play to start an 11-0 run, which also included three-pointers from Raul Lopez and Hervelle to go up 27-13. A 0-7 spurt got Ulm to within 29-22 only to see Mumbru nail a three. Another triple from Bertans had the hosts ahead 37-24. Neumann’s free throws temporarily made it a 10-point game – 37-27 – but 4 points from Bogris got the gap up to 43-27. Ulm trailed 43-29 at intermission.

David Brembley’s put-back started the second half for Ulm, but a Suarez triple increased the lead to 17. And a three from Alex Rouff had the hosts up 51-33. Ulm took advantage of an unsportsmanlike foul with 6 points from Henry and 4 from Neumann to chip into the advantage. A Mumbru three was offset by scores from Morgan and Per Guenther to get the margin to 56-49. It was 58-49 after 30 minutes. Hervelle opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, which was matched by Ulm youngster Joschka Ferner. Carlon Brown’s free throws had Ulm to within 63-54 with eight minutes to go. But a 7-0 Dominion spurt was highlighted by another Mumbru three to go up 70-54. Ulm could not muster a comeback with a Bogris put-back making it 76-56 with three minutes remaining. Ulm did not get any closer than 17 points the rest of the way.