Dordt mounted a furious second-half comeback on the road at Doane, nearly erasing a 20-point deficit before falling 79–77 in the closing seconds in Crete, Nebraska on Saturday afternoon.

Box Score (PDF)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After trailing 62–45 with just over 14 minutes remaining, the Defenders surged back behind efficient shooting, active defense, and clutch play from veterans Ty Van Essen, Jake Proctor, and Steven Poulicek. Dordt shot 58.3% in the second half and outscored Doane 45–35 over the final 20 minutes.

Doane led 71–63 when the Defenders began their final push.   Steven Poulicek drilled a right-wing three off an assist by  Ty Van Essen, cutting the margin to 71–66 and Asa Rogosich buried a after a Van Essen offensive rebound, pulling Dordt within 71–69, the closest margin since early in the first half. Doane answered with a layup to go up 73–69 and  Van Essen converted a top-of-the-key three, assisted by Rogosich, making it 73–72 with under two minutes remaining.

Doane converted a layup to move ahead 75–72 but Poulicek answered with a corner three off a feed from Connor Millikan—tying the game at 75–75 and capping a 12–4 Dordt run. Doane free throws pushed the lead back to 78-75 and Jake Proctor scored in the lane for Dordt with :12 remaining to get within one. A TDoane free throw put the hosts up 79-77. Proctor's contested shot was off the mark and Doane held on to win.

THE NUMBERS

Team Totals
Dordt

• Field Goals: 25–53 (47.2%)
• Three-Pointers: 10–26 (38.5%)
• Rebounds: 38
• Turnovers: 17

Doane

• Field Goals: 30–63 (47.6%)
• Three-Pointers: 10–27 (37.0%)
• Rebounds: 28
• Turners: 11

Dordt Leaders

• Points:
  • Jake Proctor – 23
  • Ty Van Essen – 22
  • Connor Millikan – 10
• Rebounds:
  • Connor Millikan – 7
  • Ty Van Essen – 7
  • Judson Henkel – 6
• Assists:
  • Jake Proctor – 3
  • Ty Van Essen – 3
  • Connor Millikan – 3
• Steals:
  • Judson Henkel – 2

 NEXT

Dordt is now 5-6 overall and 2-3 in the GPAC.  Dordt will host Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday, December 10.
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