The Dordt Defender men's basketball team lost an 88-74 decision to the Morningside Mustangs in GPAC play on Wednesday night, January 29 and fell to 12-2 in the GPAC and 20-2 overall.

Box Score (PDF)

The game was evenly played for much of the game with Dordt leading 10-5 after a Connor Millikan layup. A Morningside timeout ensued and the Mustangs answered with a 6-0 run. The Mustangs eventually posted a 33-24 lead with 5:48 left in the half and were still up 35-26 on minute later. A Lucas Lorenzen three-point basket started a Dordt rally over the final 4:20 and Dordt took a 39-38 halftime lead on the strength of a 13-3 run to finish the half.

The second half featured six ties over the first nine minutes with Dordt taking a 64-63 lead on a Luke Rankin three-point basket.  The two teams exchanged three-point baskets to put Dordt up 67-66 with 9:08 remaining.  Morningside scored the next seven points to lead 73-67 and that score stood up for over two minutes as neither team converted.  Morningside eventually re-started the run and held Dordt scoreless for nearly eight minutes with a run that reached 16-0. The Defenders ran out of time and never got closer than 12 before falling 88-74.

Bryce Coppock matched a season high with 25 points.  Luke Rankin dealt with foul trouble much of the game before fouling out. 

Dordt is 12-2 in the GPAC and 20-2 overall.

Morningside is 10-4 in the GPAC and 17-5 overall.

There are six games remaining in the conference schedule.

THE NUMBERS
Dordt | 27-62 fg | 11-27 3pt fg | 19-13 ft | 31 reb | 11 to
Morningside | 30-62 fg | 10-22 3pt fg | 18-24 ft | 40 reb | 8 to

Dordt Leaders
Bryce Coppock | 25 pts | 6 rebs | 2 ast
Lucas Lorenzen | 22 pts | 6 rebs
Ben Fairclough | 8 pts | 6 rebs
Luke Rankin | 7 ast

Morningside Leaders
Joey Skoff | 27 pts | 4 rebs
Aidan Vanderloo | 20 pts

NEXT

Dordt will travel to Hastings on Saturday, February 1 in its next game.  
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