Lucas Lorenzen poured in a game-high 23 points to lead No.23 Dordt University to a 98-74 win over Bellevue on day one of the Northwestern Pizza Ranch Classic played this afternoon at the Bultman Center. 

• Box Score | 

Dordt improves its record to 5-0 and will play Viterbo (Wis.) tomorrow (Saturday, Nov.11) at noon for one final tune-up game prior to the beginning of conference play next week.

Lorenzen matched his career high in points, making good on 8-of-15 field goal attempts and 9-for-12 free throws, to lead a balanced Defenders scoring offense. Luke Rankin netted a season-high 15 points, converting 5-of-7 field goals, and distributed six assists. Jake Hargens (14pts), Bryce Coppock (11pts) and Ben Fairclough (11pts) also scored in double figures. 

Dordt raced out to an 8-0 lead in the opening two minutes only to have Bellevue respond with an 18-4 run to go up 18-12, finished off with a three-pointer from Jaden Phillips with 13:12 left in the first half. Back-to-back three-point plays by Lorenzen and Connor Millikan tied the game at 18 as Dordt held the Bruins without a field goal for 3-plus minutes. 

After a stretch of trading baskets between the teams, Dordt went ahead for good with seven minutes left to go in the first half after successive lay-ups by Fairclough and Hargens.Still just a two-point game (29-27), Dordt began a 10-2 run, finished off by a Ty Van Essen three-pointer, to take a 39-29 lead. The Defenders extended their lead to 12 (46-34) as Rankin drained a three-pointer just before time expired at the half. 

Dordt stayed in front by double digits for the entirety of the second half, shooting 65% over the final 20 minutes to prevent any comeback bid by the Bruins. The Defenders extended their lead to over 20 for the first time with 12-minutes left on a lay-up by Hargens and a three-pointer from Millikan. They pushed the lead to 27 (94-67) with 2:40 left to play.

A Closer Look at the Numbers:

• Dordt shot a season-best 61% for the game; 40% (6/15) from the 3-point line
• the Defenders held a huge advantage at the free throw line, making 20-of-27 attempts, compared to Bellevue's 6-of-9
• Dordt outrebounded Bellevue 33-27
  • Hargens led the Defenders with a career-high nine boards
  • Fairclough ripped down six rebounds
• both Coppock and Lorenzen have scored in double figures in every game this season
• T.J. Fritz and Jerome Bynum led Bellevue with 16 points each

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