Dordt nearly erased a 15-point halftime deficit before falling 89–85 at Midland, rallying behind a 55-point second half that saw the Defenders shoot 54.8% after the break.

Box Score (PDF)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Midland controlled the early flow, scoring the game's first six points before Dordt answered with Ty Van Essen's free throws and Judson Henkel's early three. Steven Poulicek knocked down multiple first-half threes and Connor Millikan added mid-range makes, but Midland used consistent paint scoring and a burst of threes late in the half to build a 45–30 advantage at halftime.

Dordt opened the second half with pace and precision. After an Orr dunk to start the half, Van Essen answered immediately with a three at 19:18, and that shot triggered a major offensive push. Henkel scored eight points in the first four minutes — two free throws, then layups at 16:48 and 15:46 — trimming the margin to 50–39. Poulicek added another three at 15:07, and after a three for Midland, Dordt responded again with a Henkel layup and Van Essen's second three of the half at 13:59, making it 55–47. Millikan then guided a steady stretch of scoring, assisting Henkel, adding free throws at 11:56, hitting a jumper at 11:10, and converting two more free throws at 10:28 to pull Dordt within 61–56.

Midland briefly stabilized with  three threes, but Dordt kept challenging. Millikan's layup at 5:24 and Van Essen's driving score at 4:55 brought the deficit back to 12. Jake Proctor hit a right-wing three at 4:21 to cut it to 76–67, and Dordt continued trading baskets as Midland answered with a three but Millikan, Henkel, and Proctor kept Dordt within range. Proctor added a jumper at 1:28, Rogošic hit free throws in the final minute, and Proctor and Millikan each connected from deep in the closing seconds — Millikan's coming with one second left — before Midland closed out the four-point win.

THE NUMBERS
Team Stat Comparison

• Field Goal %: Dordt 44.8%, Midland 54.4%
• 3-Point %: Dordt 50.0% (13–26), Midland 45.8% (11–24)
• Rebounds: Dordt 26, Midland 37
• Turnovers: Dordt 10, Midland 12

Dordt Leaders – Points

• Millikan 22
• Henkel 16
• Poulicek 15
• Proctor 11
• Van Essen 10

Dordt Leaders – Rebounds

• Van Essen 7
• Millikan 6
• Henkel 4
• Poulicek 3

Dordt Leaders – Assists

• Millikan 5
• Van Essen 5

Dordt Leaders – Steals

• Proctor 2

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