Second-half defense carries Ulm to sweep of Mornar

ratiopharm Ulm snapped a four-game losing streak to stay alive in the race for the Top 16 with a 66-82 victory at Mornar Bar on Tuesday. Dylan Osetkowski led the way with 22 points as Ulm swept its two games with Mornar in Group B to improve to 2-5. Ulm allowed just 23 points in the second half while Isaiah Wilkins poured in 18 points and Andreas Obst chipped in 12 points in the win. Mornar dropped its first game at home and fell to 3-3 despite Jacob Pullen scoring 16 points, Taylor Smith contributing 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench and Isaiah Whitehead picking up 15 points.

Osetkowski opened the game in fine form with a three-pointer and two dunks and Troy Caupain had a pair of triples as Ulm jumped ahead 2-13. Nemanja Vranjes helped Mornar get things going with 6 points to pull within 10-16. Wilkins drained a three-pointer to push Ulm back up by double-figures, 15-25. The score was 17-29 after 10 minutes. Kenny Gabriel, from deep, and Suad Sehovic started the hosts back before Pullen and Whitehead loaded up and shot Mornar within 34-35 halfway through the quarter. Whitehead hit the go-ahead free throws and Smith extended the Mornar run to 11-0 before Ulm responded with a pair of baskets. Smith calmed the hosts before Wilkins dunked for Ulm as halftime arrived with Mornar holding a 43-41 edge.

Both teams struggled offensively in the opening stages of the second half though Whitehead and Pullen helped the hosts open a 49-44 cushion. Ulm got its offense going, Osetkowski inside and Aric Holman and John Petrucelli from outside, in a 0-10 run to build a 49-54 lead. Sehovic converted 3 foul shots at the other end and the gap was 52-56 after 30 minutes. The Ulm surge continued in the final frame with Wilkins and Obst hitting triples for a 12-point advantage. Whitehead’s three-pointer finally got Mornar on the board after nearly 3 minutes but Obst answered with another three-pointer and Mornar could only trade baskets with Osetkowski adding to his tally with three baskets to pull to 22 points and a 59-77 lead with 4 minutes to play. Caupain added another triple as Mornar did not get closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

22 magic number for Osetkowski

Dylan Osetkowski’s magic number appears to be 22, especially when he faces Mornar Bar. The EuroCup rookie scored 22 points for a second time in as many games against the Montenegro side, finishing with that amount in Round 1 as well. In the Round 6 game, Osetkowski added a season-high 9 rebounds while also dishing out 3 assists and picking up 2 steals for an index rating of 27.

Second half run

Ulm put the game away with a big run in the second half, especially from a defensive standpoint. The visitors turned a 49-44 deficit into a 55-71 lead with a 6-27 surge spanning the third and four quarters.

Telling numbers

Ulm survived hitting just 5 of 10 free throws by holding Mornar to just 17.2% shooting on three-pointers and committing only 9 turnovers.

Next games

Ulm returns home for its next game when it hosts Germani Brescia on Tuesday, November 10. Mornar will look to win its first road game of the season when it heads to Spain to face Unicaja Malaga the next day.