Ivanovic keeps Buducnost perfect at home

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica never trailed in holding off ratiopharm Ulm 73-68 on Wednesday evening at the Moraca. The hosts, who were missing starting point guard Justin Cobbs to injury, led by as many as 14 in the second quarter and 10 in the fourth, but Ulm repeatedly rallied to make it exciting late. Nikola Ivanovic continued his magnificent season with 21 points to lift Buducnost to 3-1 and at least a share of first place in Group B when Round 4 is concluded. Suad Sehovic fired in 13 points off the bench and Willie Reed posted 10 points and 10 rebounds. Dylan Osetkowski led the way with 18 points and 6 assists for Ulm, which lost its third straight game in falling to 1-3. Per Guenther contributed 13 points off the bench and John Petrucelli and Andreas Obst had 10 each. Round 1 MVP Troy Caupain was held scoreless.

Ivanovic heated up early with 10 points – a pair of threes and 4 free throws – in a span of 3 minutes to give Buducnost control at 15-9. Dragan Apic came off the bench to score and then he used a steal and assist to set up Petar Popovic for a double-digit lead. Foul trouble struck Ulm with two of its top three scorers – Caupain and Obst – picking up 2 fouls each. Free throws by Danilo Nikolic made it 23-11 after 10 minutes. The hosts continued to pad the lead and went up 29-15 after Sehovic's four-point play. A reverse slam by Petrucelli energized Ulm. Obst and Aric Holman drained back-to-back threes to highlight a 0-13 charge that got Ulm right back in the game, 29-28. Ivanovic ended Buducnost's drought of nearly 5 minutes with free throws. He added a layup to extend the margin to 7 before Guenther's three-pointer made it 37-33 at the break.

Popovic hit a three from the corner that triggered an 8-0 start to the second half as Buducnost re-assumed total control. Reed took control in the paint with scoring, offensive rebounds and fouls drawn. Osetkowski kept Ulm in the hunt and Obst sank a triple that prompted a Buducnost timeout at 53-48. Sehovic answered with a three that made it 56-48 through three quarters. Guenther and Sehovic traded threes to start the fourth quarter. Free throws by Apic extended the margin to double figures once again. Guenther made his third three of the game before Isaiah Wilkins narrowed the gap to 61-58. Osetkowski free throws made it 66-65 with less than 3 minutes remaining. Sehovic came to the Buducnost rescue with his fourth three and Reed blocked a Guenther layup at the other end as the hosts looked to put the game away. A three by Ivanovic with 11 seconds left did just that as Buducnost held on.

Pivotal performer

Nikola Ivanovic continued his season to remember with 21 points. With Justin Cobbs sidelined, Ivanovic started for the first time this season and went off for 10 points in 3 minutes in the first quarter to set the tone. He was there again late with a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to ice the victory. Ivanovic also contributed 4 assists and 2 steals for a performance index rating of 21 to lead his team.

Telling numbers

The numbers that most tell the story were on the glass. Buducnost outrebounded Ulm 41-28, including 13 offensive rebounds to the visitors' 4. Buducnost turned that into a 13-3 advantage in second-chance points.

Did you know?

Dylan Osetkowski was perfect in 10 free throw tries. In doing so, he tied the Ulm club mark for free throws made in a game without a miss. Matt Howard was also 10 for 10 in a January 2014 game and Ismet Akpinar did the same in October 2018. He also matched Ian Miller of Promitheas Patras for the best free-throw shooting night this season. The EuroCup record is 19 made without a miss by Roger Grimau for Caprabo Lleida in October 2002.

What's next?

Ulm hosts Unicaja Malaga in its next game, on Wednesday, October 21 in Round 5. Buducnost will be on the road, but its trip to Montenegrin rival Mornar Bar is the team's shortest in the EuroCup.