Sioux City, Iowa — The Dordt Defenders surrendered a 12-0 run near the midpoint of the first half and never recovered in dropping their GPAC opener on Wednesday night in Sioux City.
The Defenders grabbed an early 7-3 lead but trailed 9-7 before a Cade Bleeker basket tied it at 9-9. The Mustangs proceeded to go on a 12-0 run over the next 2:30 and Dordt was playing catch up the rest of the game.
Morningside was up 44-26 at halftime with Dordt mounting one serious rally in the second half when Trey Hinote’s three-point basket with 12:08 left in the game cut the gap to 58-47 and capped a 7-0 Dordt run.
A Morningside timeout ignited an 8-0 run and Dordt was never closer than 14 until another Hinote three made the final 88-75.
Cade Bleeker led the Dordt effort with 18 points and he had three rebounds and two assists.
Bryce Coppock scored 14 with four rebounds.
Luke Rankin and Jacob Vis each had 13 with Vis getting six rebounds and Rankin had six assists and six steals.
Dordt was 31-67 from the field and 9-31 from the three-point line with 4-7 success from the free throw line.
Morningside was 34-64 from the field and 4-15 from the arc while converting 16-18 free throws.
Morningside had a 43-25 rebounding advantage and both teams had 14 turnovers.
Dordt is 6-2 while Morningside improves to 4-1 and is 2-0 in the league.
NEXT
Dordt will host Concordia on Saturday afternoon at 5:45 pm.
