OrangeAcademy Falls 84-81 to RheinStars Köln in ProA Thriller
The OrangeAcademy suffered an 84-81 defeat against the RheinStars Köln on the seventh matchday of the BARMER 2. Played in a closely contested battle that featured multiple lead changes down the stretch, the fixture was ultimately decided by perimeter shooting and late execution in Ulm.
Björn Rohwer Secures Late Lead for Köln
The game remained tightly balanced through the first half, with Ulm responding promptly to early visiting surges before Köln leveled the score heading into intermission. The RheinStars held a narrow advantage through much of the second half and deep into the crunchtime period. With roughly 15 seconds remaining on the clock, former Ulm player Björn Rohwer delivered the decisive blow. Utilizing his physical presence beneath the basket, Rohwer converted a hookshot to give Köln an 82-81 lead. Ulm had a final opportunity to reclaim the advantage through CJ Anthony, but the shot missed its mark, sealing the road victory for the visitors.
Perimeter Shooting Sets the Winning Margin
The defining statistical gap between the two sides came from beyond the three-point arc. Köln converted 13 of their attempts from long range, punishing Ulm’s defense from beyond the 6.75-meter line. In contrast, head coach Mehdy Mary’s squad managed six successful three-pointers, though they maintained a respectable 30 percent shooting efficiency from deep.
Juom Maker Bol led the hosts with a dominant double-double performance, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to anchor the Ulm team. Double-digit scoring support also came from CJ Anthony with 19 points, Nil Failenschmid with 12, and Lucas Fischer with 11.
Mehdy Mary Assesses the Squad Growth After Seven Games
Despite missing out on what would have been their second home victory and fourth win of the campaign, the coaching staff found plenty of positives in the performance against a high-caliber opponent. „We played against a very strong Cologne team today and lost. Still, I am very satisfied with this appearance. We fought until the very end and kept the game open the entire time. At the end we even had a chance to win, but couldn’t take advantage of it. After the first seven games, we stand at three wins, which hardly anyone expected before the season. We are getting better from game to game, which confirms our good development,“ Mehdy Mary explained, as reported by radio schwaben.”
ProA Standings Context and Upcoming Schedule
The result leaves the OrangeAcademy with a 3-4 record through the opening seven fixtures of the 2. Basketball Bundesliga ProA season, exceeding pre-season expectations for the young roster. The team continues its league campaign as players and coaches work toward further consistency in upcoming fixtures.
