Metropolitans hold on to win in Ulm

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 registered its first win of the season by downing hot-shooting ratiopharm Ulm on the road 80-86 on Wednesday night. Both teams now hold 1-2 records in Group B. The teams had their runs and traded leads throughout the first three quarters before Metropolitans used a 3-12 run early in the fourth to take the lead for good. Anthony Brown scored 10 points in the final 3 minutes to hold off Ulm's rally. Brown finished with 18 points, while Assem Marei collected 15 points and 13 rebounds, including 8 on the offensive glass. Bastien Pinault had 14 of his 16 points in the first half, Tomer Ginat scored 13 and David Michineau had 10 in the winning effort. Ulm made 15 long-range shots, with Aric Holman hitting 6 for 6 from long range to score 20 points and Andreas Obst making 5 of 6 triples for 15 points. John Petrucelli had 14 points, on 3-of-5 three-point shooting and Per Guenther finished with 12 points in a defeat.

Metropolitans was first to strike with Pinault hitting a transition three and Michineau and Marei driving to the hoop to make it 0-9. Ulm quickly answered with Holman sinking a triple, Philipps scoring a three-point play and Guenther sinking a pair of baskets to make it 12-9. It was the visitors' turn again with Ginat fueling a run and big man Vitalis Chikoko scoring 5 points, including a three-point play to make it 14-20. But Ulm cut it to 18-22 late in the first. The hosts then scored the first 14 points of the second quarter with Petrucelli sparking the run during which Obst knocked down two triples to lead 32-22. Pinault and Holman traded triples and after Pinault scored a pair of close-range baskets, Holman's third triple made it 38-31. But Pinault scored twice more inside and Tomer Ginat banked in a runner. Then Anthony Brown hit a triple that cut it to 41-40. Guenther's jumper gave Ulm a 43-40 edge at halftime.

Holman hit 2 more threes to keep Ulm in front early in the third, but the visitors had answers. Marei dominated on the glass and scored inside, Michineau drove for a dunk and a layup, and Anthony Brown and Maxime Roos each hit a triple that gave Metropolitans a 53-58. Obst replied with back-to-back threes - with the second coming from way downtown, to restore an Ulm lead, 61-58. The hosts took a 63-62 edge into the fourth quarter, but Chikoko and Pinault fought for back-to-back tip-ins and Ginat nailed a three-pointer to make it 66-71. Obst had his fifth three for Ulm, but Marei kept pulling down offensive boards and increased the margin to 69-76 with less than 4 minutes left. Guenther and Petrucelli got Ulm within 76-78, but Anthony Brown hit his third triple entering the final minute and then nailed his fourth with 27.1 seconds to go, making it 77-84 and sealing the outcome.

Marei dominates

Metropolitans' big man Assem Marei was signed on a short-term deal in late September due to the injury of the team's starting center Miralem Halilovic. Marei shined in this one, tying a club record with 8 offensive boards. He had as many offensive rebounds as all of the Ulm players combined.

Anthony Brown steps up

Bastien Pinault led Metropolitans in the first half, Marei fought hard and came up with big baskets in the second, but Anthony Brown stepped up in clutch time. He scored 5 points in the first half and added a triple in the third quarter, but then nailed a jumper with 3 minutes to go, only to scored 8 more points, including two triples, in the final minute to secure Metropolitans' victory.

Threes not enough

For the first time in 101 EuroCup appearances, two Ulm players had at least 5 triples made. Aric Holman was 6 for 6 - the best accuracy in club history and one triple shy of the club record. Andreas Obst hit 5 of 6 in this game. Ulm made 15 triples on 25 attempts, but still did not manage to get a win.

Next up

Next week in Round 4 both teams will go against clubs from Montenegro. Metropolitans will host Mornar Bar on Tuesday, October 20, while Ulm will travel to face Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Wednesday.