The Dordt Defender men’s basketball team needed a double digit comeback to secure its third win in a row, an 84-80 win over Hastings on the road Saturday afternoon.
Hastings grabbed the early lead and controlled most of the first half, getting ahead by as many as 12 at the 9:07 mark after a Dashawn Walker basket. The lead got to 14 with 4:32 left in the half before Dordt was able to cut into the deficit trailing 39-25. Bryce Coppock scored nine in a row and helped the Defenders get within 43-36.
Hastings seemed to recover from the threat and led 56-46 with 13:47 left in the game when Dordt got rolling again. A Coppock three-point shot followed by a two-point jumper and a Trey Hinote layup got Dordt within 56-53. Dordt pulled even on a three-point basket by Coppock, one of seven he would make on the day.
Hastings regrouped and scored five in a row for a 64-59 lead after trading baskets. Bialas had a basket and free throw on successive possessions and Cade Bleeker made a long three to give Dordt a lead. Hastings led one more time on a Dawson Zenger basket at 70-69 but a Bialas basket and a Bleeker three gave Dordt a two-possession lead and Hastings was never closer than four the rest of the game.
Bryce Coppock was 12-19 from the field and scored a career high 38 with 7-9 three-point shooting to go with seven rebounds and four assists.
Cade Bleeker was 5-6 on three-point shots and had seven rebounds.
Camden Bialas and Luke Rankin both had 10 points.
Dordt was 29-62 from the field and 13-26 from the arc while limiting Hastings to 7-17 from the arc and 29-63 from the field.
Dordt was outrebounded 42-33.
The Defenders are now 8-6 in the conference and 16-7 overall.
Hastings is 6-18 overall and 1-13 in the conference.
Up next for the Dordt men a home contest against Morningside on Wednesday, February 2.
