Galatasaray dominates the glass, holds off Ulm

Galatasaray Istanbul protected its home floor to register an important 77-69 win over visiting ratiopharm Ulm on Wednesday night at Sinan Erdem Dome. Both teams now hold 3-3 records, with Galatasaray holding a tiebreak advantage due to the first game between these teams going into double-overtime. Galatasaray dominated the boards in this game, setting a EuroCup club record with 53 rebounds and pulling down 20 more boards than the visitors. Zach Auguste led the winners with 17 points plus 12 rebounds and Aaron Harrison had 17 points and 7 rebounds for Galatasaray. Ismet Akpinar had 12 points to finish as the top scorer for Ulm, which played without Dwayne Evans in this contest.

Ulm scored on its first three possessions, but Galatasaray did not allow another field goal the rest of the quarter. The hosts managed to get their first lead with Nigel Hayes sinking a short jumper to make it 10-9. The hosts committed 8 turnovers, but a three-pointer from Emir Gokalp helped them take a 15-11 lead after 10 minutes. A three from Marko Arapovic and baskets from Ege Arar and Gokalp helped open a 26-14 lead in the second. A pair of close-range baskets from Ryan Thompson and a steal and layup from Javonte Green helped keep Ulm in range, and 34-27 at halftime. Akpinar scored Ulm's first triple to open the third quarter and Green followed with another one. A pair of baskets from Isaac Fotu closed the gap to 43-41. However, Auguste had a pair of baskets inside, Hayes added a put-back dunk and Goksenin Koksal hit from long range to restore the hosts' double-digit lead. A jumper from Hayes set a 56-43 cushion late in the third quarter, but Katin Reinhardt made a three-pointer that helped trim the gap to 57-49 going into fourth. With baskets few and far between, Ulm stayed in range by making 6 of 7 free throws and Patrick Miller's jumper cut it to 64-59 with exactly five minutes to go. Thompson's layup in traffic got the visitors within 66-64, but Harrison answered with a three-pointer and Hayes had a three-point play with 56 seconds left for a 72-66 lead that the hosts held on to.

Stellar rebounding

Galatasaray shattered its club record with 53 rebounds. The team pulled down 20 in the first quarter alone and tied its previous record of 44 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. This is only the second time this season a team has had more than 50 rebounds in a game.

Key run

Ulm found its offense in the third quarter and closed within 43-41 only for Zach Auguste and Nigel Hayes to put together a 13-2 run, during which Goksenin Koksal hit a three-pointer to make it 56-43.

Leaders and contributors

Nigel Hayes was another Galatasaray scorer in double digits with 10 points, while Emir Gokalp had a nice role with 9 points and 4 assists, and Ege Arar pulled down 8 rebounds in 15 minutes on the floor. For Ulm Ryan Thompson and Patrick Miller scored 11 apiece, Javonte Green finish with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, while Isaac Fotu fought his way to 9 points and 7 rebounds.

Did you notice?

Ulm scored field goals on the opening three possessions to start to the game, only to be left without another field goal in the next 10 minutes and 10 seconds bridging first and second quarters. It scored only 1 field goal in a span of 14 minutes and 30 seconds, as Galatasaray built a 26-14 lead.

Next game

In Round 8 next week, both teams will be looking for their first road win of the season. Ulm will travel to AS Monaco and try to avoid a season sweep on Tuesday. Galatasaray will visit Germani Brescia Leonessa a day later.