The Dordt Defender men's basketball team was an 88-78 winner at Jamestown, North Dakota on Saturday, February 18 to close the regular season with a 22-6 mark and a 14-6 GPAC record to claim third place in the final standings.

Jamestown raced out to an 8-0 lead before Luke Rankin converted a basket and he followed that with a three-pointer to make it 10-5. Dordt eventually took the lead with a Jackson Louscher basket at the 12:07 mark of the half and Jacob Vis converted a three-point shot at 18-16.  Dordt extended the lead to 37-30 on a Bryce Coppock basket with 4:06 remaining but the Jimmies went on a 10-2 run capped by a Mason Walters basket for a 40-39 lead.  Dordt had an answer right before the half when Rankin scored for a 41-40 lead at the break.

Jamestown led briefly about five minutes into the second half but a Bryce Coppock basket tied the game at 55-55 and Camden Bialas added a basket for a two point lead. Jackson Louscher's basket capped a 6-0 run. Jamestown mustered one more lead with 9:29 left in the game but Lucas Lorenzen converted a three-point play for a 65-63 lead and Dordt never trailed again while pulling away for the 88-78 win.

THE NUMBERS

• Dordt was 36-64 from the field and 12-17 from the free throw line. Dordt won while converting just 4-14 three-point shots.
• Jamestown had a 42-34 rebounding edge and made 31-75 field goals and 11-34 three-point baskets. The Jimmies converted 5-6 free throws.
• Luke Rankin had 19 points and four assists with four rebounds and no turnovers in 33 minutes.
• Bryce Coppock scored 18 with five rebounds.
• Jacob Vis scored 16 with 10 rebounds and three assists.
• Jackson Louscher scored 14 in 17 minutes of play and Lucas Lorenzen scored nine.
• The loss dropped Jamestown to 15-5 in the GPAC and they share the regular season title with Morningside.
• Dordt is 22-6 overall and 14-6 in the GPAC.

NEXT

Dordt will host Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday night, February 22 in the GPAC Quarterfinals.
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