A late three-point basket in overtime gave the Morningside Mustangs a 109-106 win over the Dordt Defenders in the semifinal round of the GPAC Tournament on Saturday afternoon, March 1 in Sioux Center.

Box Score (PDF)

The Mustangs took a 27-17 lead ten minutes into the game forcing Dordt to play from behind.  The Dordt rally came with Lucas Lorenzen converting six three-point baskets and the guard had 22 points at the break as Dordt took a 51-50 lead as Bryce Coppock converted a three-pointer right at the horn for the advantage.

Dordt took its biggest lead of the second half at 63-56 but the Mustangs had an answer with two three-point baskets 10 seconds apart and the Mustangs grabbed the lead moments later with two made free throws by Aidan Vanderloo.  The game became a back and forth affair from there with Dordt taking an 87-82 lead on a Lorenzen three-point shot and Dordt was still up 91-86 with 2:41 left.  Morningside's Joey Skoff put in a three-pointer and Dordt answered with a free throw before Brendan Buckley eventually tied the game on a three-point shot with 1:05 left.

Dordt got two free throws by Bryce Coppock at the :39 mark but Morningside's answer was a three-point play by Vanderloo with :20 remaining. Morningside got a stop and made two free throws to lead 99-96 and Morningside fouled Luke Rankin in the backcourt.

Rankin made a free throw and missed the second intentionally. Millikan got the rebound with three seconds left, missed a shot and then got the putback at the horn to send the game to overtime 99-99. Dordt took a 101-99 lead to start the overtime but Morningside scored the next five.  After a pair of Morningside free throws for a 106-103 lead Dordt got a three-point basket by Coppock to tie the game atih :16 remaining. After a Morningside timeout the Defenders put together a defensive stand that forced a deep three-point basket by Justin Sitti and the senior guard won the game with the shot from the left win and the eventual 109-106 win.

Dordt is 27-3 and will await its postseason assignment when it is announced on Thursday, March 6.  Morningside will travel to Seward to face Concordia on Tuesday, March 4 for the GPAC Championship and is 23-7.  

THE NUMBERS
MORNINGSIDE | 33-63 FG | 8-18 3PT FG | 35-37 FT | 38 REBS | 11 TO
DORDT | 36-73 FG | 18-37 3PT FG | 16-18 FT | 32 REBS | 8 TO

Dordt Leaders
Lucas Lorenzen | 29 pts | 3 rebs
Connor Millikan | 21 pts | 9 rebs
Luke Rankin | 17 pts | 12 ast | 7 rebs
Bryce Coppock | 17 pts

Morningside Leaders
Brendan Buckley | 28 pts | 12 rebs
Aidan Vanderloo | 23 pts
Justin Sitti | 21 pts | 6 rebs
Joey Skoff | 15 pts | 6 rebs
Daniel Brocaille | 12 pts
 
  Read Full Article