The Dordt men never trailed in the second half and won their third game of the season with a 77-67 win over Viterbo at the Northwestern Red Raider Classic in Orange City, Iowa.
Dordt controlled much of the first half but every time it appeared the Defenders would build a significant lead the VHawks had a rebuttal. Dordt got a 39-33 lead late in the half on a Bryce Coppock three-point basket and a stop gave Dordt possession with time winding down. A turnover allowed Viterbo to get the ball back and a pair of free throws made it 39-35 at halftime.
Dordt pushed the lead to 52-39 with 16:24 left in the game on a Jacob Vis free throw. Viterbo answered with a timeout and scored eight in a row over the next 2:30 to get the lead down to five. The Defenders built an eight point lead on a Cade Bleeker free throw for a 65-57 lead with 7:13 left in the game. Viterbo rallied one final time with a 6-0 run to get within 65-63 but Vis answered quickly with a field goal and a 67-63 lead. The next two minutes were scoreless and Dordt was up 72-63 with under a minute to go before Viterbo scored again. The Defenders converted free throws in the final minutes to secure the 77-67 win.
Dordt will travel to Presentation in Aberdeen, South Dakota on Wednesday, November 11.
