The Dordt Defender men's basketball team beat Northwestern on a shot right before the buzzer for an 81-79 win at the De Witt Gym in Sioux Center on Wednesday, February 5.

Box Score (PDF)

The Defenders got out to a 15-6 first half lead with Connor Millikan converting a three-point basket with 14:39 left in the half and Dordt eventually pushed the difference to 11 on a Luke Rankin three-point basket with 9:32 left till halftime. Dordt's lead was as many as 12 and was down to four before reasserting control late in the half on a Jake Hargens basket but Northwestern's Jalen Langsy got a three to close the half and Dordt led 47-37.

Northwestern came back and outscored Dordt 19-8 over the first six minutes and led 56-55 and went up 71-64 on a basket with 7:13 remaining in the game. A Ty Van Essen three-point shot stopped the run and after a Luke Rankin basket in the paint Van Essen made two free throws to tie the game. Ben Fairclough added a free throw with 4:25 left in the game to put Dordt up and neither team led by more than three the rest of the contest.

Leading 78-75 after a Rankin basket Northwestern got within 78-77 on an Alex Van Kalsbeek basket at the 1:30 mark and Dordt missed on its next possession. After a Northwestern turnover Northwestern was forced to foul and made one of two free throws for a 79-77 lead.  After a Northwestern timeout the Raiders tied the game with Alex Van Kalsbeek going to the basket with :04 left.  Ben Fairclough threw the ball to Luke Rankin who started his dribble on the left sideline at midcourt and drove to the baseline before finding Jake Hargens who caught the ball in the air on the right block and shot it before coming down. After a review the shot was ruled good and Dordt and the season sweep of the Raiders.

Dordt is 22-2 overall and 14-2 in the GPAC.

Northwestern is 20-4 overall and 12-4 in the league.

THE NUMBERS
Dordt | 31-58 fg | 7-20 3pt fg | 12-15 ft | 23 reb | 11 to
Northwestern | 29-52 fg | 8-19 3pt fg | 13-14 ft | 29 reb | 18 to

Dordt Leaders
Luke Rankin | 18 pts | 6 rebs | 8 ast | 2 stl
Connor Milliken | 15 pts
Bryce Coppock | 12 pts | 4 rebs
Jake Hargens | 11 pts

Northwestern Leaders
Alex Van Kalsbeek | 27 pts | 6 rebs
Jalen Langsy | 22 pts | 5 rebs

NEXT
Dordt will host Midland on Saturday, February 8 in its next game.
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