Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt Defender men’s basketball team overcame a poor shooting night to battle its way to a five point win over Dakota Wesleyan on the road Wednesday night at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Dordt took an early 6-0 lead in the first half but the hosts retaliated by taking the lead at 16-15 on a Nick Harden basket with 8:54 left in the half. A Jesse Jansma three-point basket ignited a 7-0 run for the Defenders and the lead grew to 28-19 on a Cade Bleeker three-point basket with 1:58 left in the half. The lead was still nine at 30-21 after Bryce Coppock made a pair of free throws but Dakota Wesleyan got back to back baskets to close the half and cut the lead to 30-25.
Wesleyan kept the pressure on and took a 33-32 lead with just over three minutes gone in the second half and still led 35-34 after a pair of Harden free throws. A Dordt timeout ignited an 8-0 run over a three minute span to put Dordt up 42-35. The lead eventually became 53-40 on a pair of Dejay Fykstra free throws with 7:00 left.
The hosts answered with a 7-0 run over the next 2:15 and eventually had the lead down to two on several occasions, the last time with the score 61-59 with :16 left after a pair of Harden free throws. Jesse Jansma was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and made one of two free throws. Wesleyan got a three-point shot off with under ten seconds left but the long carom came to Ben Gesink who found a releasing Coppock for a breakaway lay up at the buzzer for the 64-59 final.
