GET YOUR TICKETS for our upcoming fixtures including our opening European tie at home to Fribourg THIS WEDNESDAY and our rivalry game against Newcastle THIS FRIDAY!
Match report by Jed Forson
Gladiators FIBA Europe Cup Campaign began with a defeat in Germany to Ludwigsburg.
Coming off a 4th quarter-comeback victory in Manchester on Sunday afternoon, while their hosts are coming off a narrow loss to ULM and have started their season with a 2-2 record.
Ludwigsburg came eighth in the Bundesliga last season but made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and two years ago finished third in the competition so this was not an easy start to the European campaign for the Gladiators.
In the starting five Kyle Jimenez and Trevond Barnes moved to the bench and Isaiah Hill and Tanner Stuckman joined the starters from Sunday: Patrick Whelan, Fraser Malcolm and Fahro Alihodzic.
The game started physically with both teams entering the bonus and picking up fouls early on.
The Gladiator’s offence struggled to get going shooting just 25% from the field and 16% on two-pointers in the first quarter. The defence did force their opponents into shooting 1/9 from three however they were able to capitalise with easy points from turnovers and points in the paint.
This trend continued in the second as Ludwigsburg were able to get out in transition and score after some great defence from them, protecting the rim and picking up multiple blocks.
Gladiators turnovers- after being comparable to their opponents- began to increase as the German outfit increased their intensity on defence. At half time the Gladiator’s ability to get the free throw line was keeping them in the game but the lead was at ten.m
Unfortunately, for the Gladiators this trend continued in the second half.
Ludwigsburg’s aggressive trapping on defence led to several turnovers and the Gladiators struggling to get the ball over half-court at times. The lead opened up to over 20 points in the third.
The Gladiators slowly chipped away the lead to end the third, but in the fourth quarter, Ludwigsburg extended their lead to over 30, quelling any thought of a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback.
On a poor night for the team, Tanner Stuckman was the one consistent on offence, finishing with 16 points and two steals.
Ultimately, it was a poor night for the Gladiators, who never led. Their German opponents won on a wire-to-wire basis, and they will look to bounce back at home to Newcastle on Friday night.
Re-watch the game:
