The Dordt Defender rally came up short at Hastings on Saturday afternoon, January 3 as the Defenders fell 81-79 to Hastings in GPAC play.
Box Score (PDF)
Dordt controlled the first half from the opening tip, never trailing and building a lead as large as 12 points. The Defenders came out firing from deep, with
Jake Proctor hitting two early threes and
Steven Poulicek adding another as Dordt jumped to a 12-0 start.
Connor Millikan and
Ty Van Essen contributed inside and from the perimeter, while Proctor stayed hot with three triples in the half. Dordt shot 50% from the field and 44% from three in the first half, taking a 38-33 lead into the locker room.
The second half belonged to Hastings. Micah Hinrichs and DaRon Hall sparked the comeback, combining for multiple threes and mid-range jumpers. Hinrichs hit two triples and Hall scored repeatedly in the lane, including an and-one that gave Hastings its first lead. A 13-2 run pushed the Broncos ahead by double digits at 75-62 with 2:46 remaining, fueled by Hall's scoring burst and free throws, plus a clutch three from Hinrichs.
Dordt mounted a furious rally.
Jake Proctor scored 10 points in the final two minutes, including a pair of jumpers and free throws, and
Steven Poulicek drilled a three with 11 seconds left to make it 80-77.
Connor Millikan added a last-second bucket to cut the deficit to two, but Hastings held on for an 81-79 victory.
Dordt is 10-7 overall and 5-4 in the GPAC. Dordt will travel to face Midland on Saturday, January 10 in its next game.
THE NUMBERS
- Field Goals: Dordt 29-64 (45.3%) | Hastings 29-53 (54.7%)
- Three-Point FG: Dordt 12-36 (33.3%) | Hastings 12-24 (50.0%)
- Free Throws: Dordt 9-13 (69.2%) | Hastings 11-18 (61.1%)
- Turnovers: Dordt 9 | Hastings 6
- Rebounds: Dordt 42 | Hastings 28
Dordt Leaders
