Ulm edges Lokomotiv in overtime, but losers advance

ratiopharm Ulm outlasted Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar 105-101 after overtime, but both teams had reasons to smile when it was over. Ulm, which clinched a Top 16 berth last week, improved to 4-3 to remain only one win behind Group D leader Valencia Basket, while Lokomotiv found itself in the next stage during the game when Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem defeated Union Olimpija Ljubljana. Ulm seemed to have the game won when Chris Babb nailed a three-pointer with 5 seconds left in regulation, but Mardy Collins tied it at the buzzer to force an extra session. Then the hosts scored the first 6 points and held on the rest of the way. Babb led all scorers with 30 points, Tim Ohlbrecht added 20, Da’Sean Butler scored 16 and Augstine Rubit and Raymar Morgan had 12 each, while Braydon Hobbs dished 10 assists for the winners. Collins paced Lokomotic with 26 points, 6 assists and 4 steals, Matt Janning netted 20 points, Kevin Jones 15, Dmitry Khvostov 11 and Evgeny Baburin 10.

Ulm set the tone early and rolled to a 20-7 lead, but Lokomotiv did not fold and cut the gap to 24-17 after 10 minutes. Lokomotiv found its touch in the second quarter and tied the game at 34-34 on a triple by Baburin. Jones pushed Lokomotiv ahead 39-40 and after a basket by Ohlbrecht for the hosts and a Khvostov triple, the score stood at 41-43 at halftime. Jones scored twice in a 0-9 run to start the third quarter as the visitors claimed a double-digit lead. Ohlbrecht started a 14-0 Ulm charge with a triple and ended it with a three-point play as the hosts regained control. Lokomotiv roared back as Janning scored half the points in a 0-10 run. The scoreboard showed 62-64 through three quarters. Back-to-back baskets by Collins put Lokomotiv up 74-79 with four minutes left in regulation time. And Jones stretched the difference to 7 a minute later. Ohlbrecht came up big with a three-point play and then a steal that lead to a Chris Babb layup to tie the game at 85-85 with over a minute to play. Babb then hit what seemed to be the game-winning three with 5 seconds left in the quarter, however Lokomotiv quickly inbounded the ball to Collins, who dribbled up the court and knocked down a triple on the buzzer to tie it at 91-91 and force overtime. Ulm started the extra session with 6 straight points, but Collins kept the visitors close at 99-97. Hobbs sank free throws and later set up Morgan for a 6-point lead with a minute to go and held on down the stretch.