Mitchell, South Dakota — Dordt will travel to Mitchell, South Dakota to face Dakota Wesleyan at 8:00 pm.
Dakota Wesleyan is 16-6 this season and 12-5 overall. Wesleyan lost to Valley City State to open the season and then ripped off 13 wins in a row through January 6. Since January 6 the Tigers have gone 3-5 and have lost two in a row to Morningside and Concordia.
Wesleyan averages 76.5 points per game while allowing teams 71.2. Wesleyan also outrebounds teams 34.3-33.1 and convert 46.3 percent of its field goals and 43.7 percent for opponents.
The Defenders are 16-7 this season and 11-7 in the GPAC after snapping a three game losing streak on February 3 in a win over Concordia.
Garrett Franken leads the Defenders with a 16.0 points per game average and 48 percent field goal shooting with 7.4 rebounds and nearly three assists per game. Jesse Jansma scores 14.6 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and nearly four assists per game and he makes 45 percent of his field goals. Jacob Vis scores 12.2 points with 5.5 rebounds and Cade Bleeker adds 10.8 points per game. Vis converts 65 percent of his field goals. Bryce Coppock has lifted his scoring average to 9.3 points per game and he has a team high 39 made three-point shots while Bleeker and Jansma each have 38 makes. Ben Gesink scores 6.1 points per game and Camden Bialas and Dejay Fykstra have 5.5 and 5.0 points per game respectively.
Dordt is outscoring teams 82.5-76.0 and outrebounding teams 35.8-33.9. Dordt makes 50 percent of its field goals and allow 45.2 percent success.
Dordt and Dakota Wesleyan played on November 18 in Sioux Center and Wesleyan won a double overtime decision 80-78. Dakota Wesleyan was up 39-30 at halftime but Dordt came back with a 27-18 advantage in the second half to force overtime. Dordt had a chance to win in regulation but missed the winning shot. Cade Bleeker forced a second overtime with a three-pointer. Dordt was down 80-78 in the second overtime and Wesleyan missed a free throw and gave Dordt a chance to tie or take the lead but the three-point basket at the buzzer was off the mark and Wesleyan prevailed by one. Jansma scored 20 with seven assists for Dordt and Jacob Vis had 17 points and 16 rebounds. Nick Harden topped Wesleyan with 21 and Schuch had 18. Dordt had a 46-34 rebounding advantage.
Dordt concludes the regular season on February 20 on the road against Briar Cliff.
