For champions Ulm, the home game with Crailsheim was about keeping up with Chemnitz – which worked, albeit with little confidence. A little further down the table, the Bamberg Baskets beat the Braunschweig Lions
German champions ratiopharm Ulm won with difficulty against relegation candidates Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. The defending champions only prevailed in the final quarter against the bottom club in the table by 94:87 (48:47) on Saturday. Karim Jallow was Ulm’s best scorer with 26 points.
Ulm remains top of the table after its eighth win of the season, while Crailsheim has just one success to its name. It was not a clear-cut affair from the outset. Crailsheim surprised the home side in the first quarter. The underdog led 29:25 after ten minutes. Although the team of Head Coach Anton Gavel was able to turn the deficit around by the break (48:47), it did not bring the champions calm and security – on the contrary.
The relegation candidates went into the final period with a one-point lead after a good third quarter (21:19). It was only there that the favorites showed their class and clinched victory.
Meanwhile, the former series champions Bamberg Baskets beat Löwen Braunschweig by 92:78 (41:41). Zach Copeland stood out with 27 points. The Rostock Seawolves turned around their home game against BG Göttingen in the basement of the table and are now cautiously aiming for mid-table thanks to their third win of the season (96:92).
