SCORE

Dordt defeats Midland 108-102

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Defender men's basketball team secured a 108-102 overtime win on Saturday afternoon at Midland in Fremont, Nebraska. The Defenders had to overcome a late six-point deficit to force overtime and then dominated the overtime period for their 10^th win of the conference season.

A late three-point basket by Connor Millikan in the first half gave Dordt a 47-41 lead its biggest lead of the half but Derek Merwick's basket cut the difference to 47-43 and gave him 19 points in the half.

A pair of Ben Fairclough free throws with 17:56 left in the second half put the Defenders up 53-46 but the Defenders couldn't push the lead further. Midland rallied and took its first lead of the second half at 59-58 with 13:13 remaining.   The game remained close until back-to-back baskets by the Warriors gave them a six point lead that was maintained at 76-70 with 5:57 left. A Lucas Lorenzen basket stopped the bleeding and Connor Millikan scored a basket after a Midland miss. Lorenzen made a turn around baseline shot to tie the game at the end of a shot clock and the score was tied at 78, 80, 82 and a three-point play by Millikan with :48 left put Dordt up 85-84.

Two free throws by Merwick on the ensuing possession gave the Warriors a one-point lead and sent Luke Rankin to the bench with five fouls. After a Lucas Lorenzen layup Midland countered with a Ryan Larsen three to go up 89-87.  With :10 left Dordt's Bryce Coppock came down and hit a two-point basket with his toes on the three-point line to send the game to overtime.

????? Cold blooded pic.twitter.com/cSVS1yhpv6

— Dordt Defender Athletics (@dordtdefenders) February 4, 2024

Ben Fairclough's three-point basket from the right corner opened the Dordt overtime scoring and three baskets by Millikan and a pair of Coppock free throws put the Defenders in control for the six-point win.

????? Connor Millikan extends the Dordt OT lead pic.twitter.com/VlwBJcyXXz

— Dordt Defender Athletics (@dordtdefenders) February 4, 2024

THE NUMBERS

• Dordt converted 37-68 field goals and 26-30 free throws.
• Midland made 41-80 field goals and 14-21 free throws.
• Midland had a 37-36 rebounding edge.
• Dordt is 17-5 overall and 10-4 in the league. Midland is 9-14 overall and 4-11 in the GPAC.
  • Dordt Leaders
    • Bryce Coppock had 22 points and 7 rebounds with four assists.
    • Connor Millikan scored 21 points with eight rebounds and two assists.
    • Lucas Lorenzen scored 20 with seven rebounds.
    • Ben Fairclough and Jackson Louscher both had 13 points.
    • Luke Rankin became the all-time assists leader at Dordt and has 500 after dishing seven to go with 10 points.
  • Midland Leaders
    • Derek Merwick scored 32 points with 16 rebounds and 13 assists.
    • Jake Orr scored 23 points.

NEXT    

Dordt will travel to Concordia on Monday, February 5 in a re-scheduled game starting at 7:45.