Ilerna Lleida dominated ratiopharm Ulm 100-66 in the second round of the Sant Julià de Vilatorta tournament. The Catalan side controlled the game from the opening quarter after suffering a loss to Casademont Zaragoza in their opener.
No Contest From the Start
The intensity difference was evident early. The first quarter ended 26-18, and the decisive run came before halftime, with the Catalans heading into the break with a 22-point lead (53-31). In the second half, they never let up, supported by superior shooting percentages and clear rebounding dominance: 49 boards to 39 for their opponents.
Darius McGhee, one of the new additions to the project, led the scoring with 19 points. He was joined by James Batemon (15) and Melvin Ejim (14). For the German side, only two players reached double figures: Jaylen Sims (20) and Meissa Feye (13).
Context of the Opposition
It's worth noting who this victory came against. ratiopharm Ulm is no second-rate team: they compete in the EuroCup this season, placed in the same Group D as Baxi Manresa and Bosna Sarajevo, and are regulars in the Bundesliga. Beating them by 34 points in September doesn't decide anything, but it's far from a neutral result either.
For Lleida, the takeaway is one of reaction. The first friendly, against a Casademont Zaragoza side that opened with a win and 38 points from Justin Jaworski, ended in defeat. This victory restores positive vibes to a team that, once again, will have to fight for survival in the Liga Endesa.