Trent Hilbrands scored a game-high 23 points, including a game-clinching three-pointer with under a minute left, to lead Northwestern to a 74-69 home win over 21st-ranked Dordt Wednesday night at the Bultman Center.
The Red Raiders have won three straight and move to 2-2 in the GPAC, 8-2 overall.
Leading by two at the half, Northwestern scored the first 10 points of the second half to open its largest lead of the game (51-37) on back-to-back baskets by Hilbrands. Still up by 14 (58-44), Dordt rallied with a 12-0 run, finished off with a basket by Zach Bussard, and trailed by just two (58-56) with seven minutes left.
The teams traded baskets over the next six minutes and with Northwestern leading by two (67-65), Hilbrands knocked down a three-pointer with 57 seconds left to put his team back up by five. Northwestern made just enough free throws down the stretch to get the five-point win.
Hilbrands shot 9-for-18 from the field and scored 20+ points for the 10th time this season. Jay Small and Grant Rohrer both scored 11 points and Parker Mulder (9) and Steven Kragt (8) were the other top scorer for Coach Korver’s squad. Northwestern shot an even 50% for the game (29/58), 35% (7/20) from the arc, but struggled to just 50% (9/18) from the free throw line. Mulder pulled down a team-leading seven rebounds, followed by Rohrer (6) and Hilbrands (5).
Dordt shot 40% for the game and was led by both Bussard and Josh Van Lingen with 14 points each. Chandler Brunsting was also in double figures with 11. The Defenders held the edge on the glass (39-36) but struggled from the arc, making 7-of-28 three-point attempts.
The game was tight early as the teams traded baskets over the first eight minutes. Dordt went on the games first substantial run as Van Lingen finished off a 10-2 run with a three-pointer to take a 23-15 advantage with nine minutes left. Northwestern rallied with a 10-2 run of its own, tying the game at 25, and eventually grabbed a four-point lead after a three-pointer from Small. Northwestern held a two-point advantage at the half, 39-37.
Northwestern will host Briar Cliff on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 4pm.
