FINAL
Dordt def. Central (Iowa) 95-80
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dordt Defender men's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a 95-80 win at home over Central (Iowa) in a non-conference contest. The Defenders secured the win by building a 26-point lead in the second half and then held off a Central rally in the final 10 minutes that got the visitors within eight points.
The Defenders allowed the first points of the game and never trailed after a
Ben Fairclough three-point basket put them up 3-2. Dordt's first double-digit lead came at the 8:31 mark with a
Lucas Lorenzen basket off an assist by
Luke Rankin and the Defenders went up by 21 before settling for a 50-32 halftime lead. Dordt outscored Central 28-17 in the final 10 minutes of the half.
Dordt maintained a substantial lead in the second half and was up 76-50 with 9:21 left after a Fairclough three-point basket. Over the next three minutes the Dutch went on a 13-0 run and forced a Dordt timeout. A
Bryce Coppock three-point shot seemed to stop the threat but the Dutch rallied again by knocking down three-point shots and the lead was down to 84-76 with 3:06 left in the game. A pair of
Ty Van Essen free throws got the gap to 10 and Central answered with a basket at the 1:53 mark to get within 86-78.Â
Dordt ran the clock down and
Luke Rankin found Coppock for a midrange jumper to get the lead back to 10 again with 1:22 left and the Defenders closed the game on a 7-0 run after another Central basket for the 15 point win.
THE NUMBERS
- Dordt converted 33-70 field goals and 9-25 three-point shots.
- Central had a 43-42 rebounding advantage but Dordt committed 11 turnovers to 16 for Central.
- Central was 33-79 from the field and 10-33 from the arc.
- Dordt made 20-24 free throws.
- Bryce Coppock scored 24 points.
NEXT
Dordt will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Wednesday, November 1 to face Dakota State in the Pentagon.
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