Ludwigsburg rolls past ALBA

U18 Porsche Ludwigsburg rolled to an easy 43-88 victory over U18 ALBA Berlin in the first game in Group B of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Munich. Ariel Hukporti paced Ludwigsburg with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 blocks while Jacob Patrick scored 19 points and Ralph Hounnou added 18 points with 7 rebounds. ALBA scored just 16 points the second half and made just 19-of-65 shots in the game (29.2 percent) including 1-of-16 from three-point range (6.3 percent). And no ALBA player scored in double figures, topped by Hendrik Warner scoring 8 points.

Hukporti started off fantastically with 8 points and Nico Santana Mojica and Patrick both hit three-pointers as Ludwigsburg raced ahead 2-14. Ludwigsburg then put together an 0-16 run with three-balls from Hounnou and Hukporti to lead 4-30 and the margin was 10-32 after 10 minutes. Hukporti added seven points - including a second three-ball - in an 0-9 start to the second quarter to lead 10-41. Lias Lueneberg picked up two scores and Anton Quinkler drained a three-ball as ALBA tried to get back into the game but trailed 27-55 at intermission. Patrick opened the second half with two three-pointers and another Hukporti score pushed the margin to 28-63. ALBA continued to struggle getting points with just Hao Dai and Lueneberg scoring baskets as Ludwigsburg was up 35-67 after 30 minutes. Hounnou took over more of the scoring in the fourth with six points in a 2-12 start to the final frame and a 37-79 lead. Patrick added a three-ball and ALBA tallied just 8 points in the quarter.