Dordt used an efficient first half and a 21-0 stretch after the break to pull away from Waldorf for a 103–79 home victory, turning a six-point halftime edge into a runaway finish.
Box Score (PDF)
The Defenders set the tone offensively in the opening half, shooting better than 50 percent from the floor while steadily building separation.
Connor Millikan carried the scoring load early, attacking the rim and knocking down shots from the perimeter on his way to a game-high 27 points.
Jake Proctor added strong finishes in the lane and a three-pointer, while
Ty Van Essen and
Judson Henkel combined to score at the line and in transition. Waldorf kept pace behind hot shooting from Conner Aldridge and Krys Watley, but Dordt closed the half with momentum, taking a 47–41 advantage into the locker room.
The game swung decisively in Dordt's favor early in the second half. After Waldorf briefly threatened to keep the margin manageable, Dordt erupted on a 21-point run that blew the game open. Millikan sparked the surge with back-to-back three-pointers, followed by baskets from
Asa Rogosich and Proctor that pushed the lead into double figures.
Van Essen scored on a drive and then set up Henkel for points at the free-throw line. During the run, Dordt paired the scoring with defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and limiting Waldorf's second-chance opportunities. By the time the run concluded, the Defenders had full control, and Dordt continued to control—shooting nearly 56 percent in the second half—to close out the 24-point win.
Millikan entered the game with 996 career points and became the 47th member of the Dordt Men's Basketball 1,000 Point Club and is 41st all-time with 1,023 points after tonight's game.
Dordt is 5-3 in conference play and 10-6 overall and will travel to face Hastings on Saturday, January 3.
Team Comparisons
- Field Goals: Dordt 37-of-68 (54.4%) | Waldorf 30-of-64 (46.9%)
- Three-Point Field Goals: Dordt 14-of-31 (45.2%) | Waldorf 11-of-29 (37.9%)
- Free Throws: Dordt 15-of-21 (71.4%) | Waldorf 8-of-11 (72.7%)
- Turnovers: Dordt 17 | Waldorf 21
- Rebounds: Dordt 41 | Waldorf 30
Dordt Individual Leaders
