Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt Defenders earned a critical GPAC win over Concordia on Wednesday night in Sioux Center, avenging a November loss to the Bulldogs in Seward.
Dordt seized the lead early in the game and never relinquished the advantage under pressure on the way to a six point win.
Jacob Vis gave Dordt the lead for good with a basket at the 16:28 mark to put the Defenders up 7-5. The basket was a part of an 11-0 run that put Dordt up 16-5 after a three-point basket by Bryce Coppock. The lead grew to as much as 16 and was never less than eight before Dordt went to halftime up 39-26.
Concordia quickly sliced away at the lead with a 22-11 run over the first six minutes of the second and whittled the lead down to 50-48. Dordt withstood the challenge and extended the advantage to seven on a basket by Garrett Franken with 8:45 left in the game.
Concordia got as close as 63-62 after a Sam Scarpelli three-point bucket with 5:14 left. Dordt missed on the ensuing possession and Scarpelli tried a three for the lead and missed. Dordt again pushed the lead to six with 2:07 left but back to back baskets by Concordia to the difference down to 71-69. With under a minute to go Dordt missed on a drive and Concordia answered with a missed three and Dordt’s Bryce Coppock was fouled. The first-year player converted both free throws for four point cushion with :22 left. The Bulldogs turned it over with under :10 to play and Jesse Jansma made two free throws for the final of 75-69.
Garrett Franken had 18 points and seven rebounds with three assists and two steals. Coppock had 14 points and two assists. Jesse Jansma converted 11 points with seven rebounds. Dejay Fykstra added nine points and three assists and Ben Gesink handed out three assists.
Concordia was topped by Gage Smith with 19 points and 12 rebounds with three assists.
Dordt is 16-7 overall and 11-7 in the league while Concordia is 14-8 overall and 11-6 in the GPAC.
