Trento regains smile in EuroCup: Ulm ko

After a month, Dolomiti Energia Trentino finds success again in the EuroCup. Trento won a very important game in Ulm 100-87 on the ninth day. After a first half of great balance, the bianconeri put the turbo in the second half, even touching +20 and snatching two very heavy points on the road. In the second half the team raises the defensive level and, on offense, moving the ball with continuity, finds with great fluidity the way to the basket. MVP of the night DeVante’ Jones, author of 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Good showings also for Bayehe (19 points and 9 fouls taken), DJ Steward (18 points and 4 assists), Jakimovski (13) and Jogela (12). Weidemann’s 21 points, including 16 in the first half, were not enough for Ulm.

Jakimovski opens the game with a penetration closed by getting fouled and completed by the additional free, then with a floater he signs the 0-5. Ulm unlocks with Sengfelder from the lunette, but Steward responds by attacking the iron with his left hand. Smith finds the basket off the dribble, stop and shoot, but again Jakimovski, on penetration, adds two more points. Simon shortens it to 6-9, then Jones burns the defense on penetration; on the other side Smith hits from the corner and Sengfelder signs the 11-all tie. Jones answers with a triple and Jakimovski makes two free throws, but Ulm retaliates with Anigbata’s bomb. Jogela gets and scores three free, followed by Osborne’s 1/2, then Bayehe scores in the low post. Simon scores on a throw-in and Weidemann first attacks the iron then finds the overtaking triple. At the buzzer Battle, on step-back, closes the quarter with the 22-24 triple.

Simon opens the second quarter with two points, then Weidemann signs Ulm’s overtake with two consecutive triples. Diakite completes ratiopharm Ulm’s 10-1 run with a dunk, forcing coach Cancellieri to timeout. Steward breaks the HCL fast break with a floater, Jones shortens with a triple and Jogela from the corner signs the tie. Smith scores with a basket and foul, but Jogela responds with a big triple in transition. Simon corrects on offensive rebound bringing Ulm back ahead, Steward immediately retaliates. Jensen hits from the arc, Battle scores an elegant reverse and Bayehe puts the Eagle back ahead. Weidemann, on penetration, signs 43-42, then Jones makes a step-back triple; Weidemann again responds, reaching 16 points in 20 minutes. The second quarter closes 46-45.

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Simon opens the second half, but Aldridge immediately responds with a triple from the wing. Anigbata scores on an alley-oop, Jakimovski retaliates on a tap-in, and Mawugbe, served by Steward, signs the HCL overtake. Smith again reverses the inertia with basket plus foul and additional free, but Steward answers with a triple from far away. Bayehe and Steward himself score from the lunette for 53-59. Smith tries to bring Ulm closer again, but Bayehe retaliates with a basket and foul for the Eagle’s maximum lead. Battle adds two points, then Sengfelder makes a free before Jogela’s assist for Bayehe’s dunk. Battle completes the break with the coast-to-coast 56-68, forcing Herrelson to timeout. Jensen comes back scoring on penetration, but Steward responds in eurostep. Jensen again, this time with a foul and extra free, keeps the Germans alive, but Bayehe restores the double-digit margin. Weidemann adds the technical free to Battle, then Hassan scores on penetration. In the final Anigbata puts up two free throws and Trento closes an excellent third quarter ahead 64-73.

Aldridge opens the last period with a powerful dunk over Diakite, completed by the additional free. Steward immediately responds with a heavy basket with a foul that is worth the new maximum HCL lead (+15). Simon shortens in transition, but Jones puts back distance first from the lunette and then on penetration. Weidemann makes two free throws, but Jogela retaliates with a big triple that induces Harrelson to timeout. On the comeback, Steward signs +20, Jensen finds two points and Simon retaliates, this time prompting Cancellieri to the timeout. Sengfelder scores on return, but Jones immediately responds; Simon makes 1/2 at the free and Smith brings Ulm back to 78-91. Bayehe converts two free throws, Anigbata hits from the corner from three, then Bayehe again makes 2/2 at the referee before Garavaglia’s basket makes it 83-95. In the finale Jones and Bayehe exchange baskets with Weidemann, and the game ends 87-100.