The Dordt University men's basketball team earned a 101-92 win over Bethel (Ind.) in a first round game of the 2023 NAIA National Championship, Henderson Bracket played this evening in Henderson, Tenn.
Dordt, the top seed of the four-team bracket, earned its fifth straight win and advance to Wednesday's second round game where they will play No.2 seed and host, Freed-Hardeman University. The Defenders have won 10 of their last 11 games and move on with a 26-6 overall record.
"This group of guys have been very dedicated to working on their craft and becoming excellent offensive basketball players," said Dordt University Head Coach Brian Van Haaften. "The seniors on this team have been great leaders and brought an excellent culture of believing and serving to the rest of the group. They are excited to be one of the best 32 teams in the country, and they are not satisfied with stopping there."
Dordt, the top shooting team in the NAIA, continued to blister the nets, shooting 65% from the field, 38% from beyond the arc. All five Defender starters scored in double figures, led by the inside / outside duo of
Bryce Coppock (29 points) and
Jacob Vis (21 points).
Lucas Lorenzen added 19 points, draining a team-high three shots from beyond the arc, while
Cade Bleeker (12pts) and
Luke Rankin (11pts) were also in double figures.
"We got some very consistent contributions from our starters in the game," said Van Haaften. "Bryce was extremely efficient, Jacob was dominant in the first half, Lucas had an outstanding end to the first half, Cade cut well tonight, and Luke made us go with his leadership."
The Defenders scored the first five points of the game and then traded baskets with Bethel over the next five minutes to take a 16-11 lead. Following a Bethel timeout, the Pilots went on their best run of the game, outscoring the Defenders 12-2 and earn a 23-18 advantage with 12 minutes left in the half.
Still up down four (24-20), a basket by
Jackson Louscher and a three-pointer from Rankin began a decisive 11-0 Dordt run that put the Defenders in front for good, 31-24. Dordt held Bethel without a basket for nearly four minutes while the Defenders offense was hitting its stride as four different players scored during the run.
Another 8-0 run gave Dordt its largest and first double-digit lead, 39-28, following a couple of free throws from Lorenzen. The freshman then drained two three-pointers and, coupled two free throws by Vis, extended the Dordt lead out to 49-32 with two minutes left before halftime. Dordt led 53-38 at the break.
Dordt's lead fluctuated from as many as 17 points to as few as eight in the high-scoring second half. The Defenders continued to shoot well, making good on 62% of its field goal attempts during the final frame, while also getting to the free throw line often (11/15 in the 2nd half).
"We did an outstanding job on offense in getting some easy baskets, and still being able to grind down the shot clock and get great shots," commented Van Haaften. "Our team passed the ball well and executed our offensive sets. We had no jitters tonight and went out from the beginning and played great on offense."
By the Numbers...
- Dordt improved to 7-6 in national tournament games
- this was the ninth game this season the Defenders scored 100+ points
- Dordt's 65% from the field was its third best percentage this season
- the Defenders have shot 60% or better in 10 games
- this was the first ever match-up played between Dordt and Bethel
- Vis has scored in double figures in 31 of 32 games
- Coppock has netted double figures in 30 of 32 games
- the battle on the boards was even, 29-29
- Bethel pulled down 15 on the offensive end compared to seven by the Defenders
- Rankin led the Defenders in rebounding (8) and assists (6)
- Drew Lutz, a NCAA D-I transfer from Incarnate Word (Texas), scored a game-high 40 points, 33 in 2nd half
