Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt University men’s basketball team closed on a 13-4 run to earn a 75-74 win against Morningside in a GPAC match-up played Wednesday at the DeWitt Gym.
The Defenders extend their win streak to four games and move into a three-way tie, along with Morningside and Northwestern, for fourth place in the GPAC standings. Dordt is 9-6 in the conference, 17-7 overall.
Cade Bleeker led Dordt with 18 points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers during the final two-plus minutes, to help rally the Defenders. Bryce Coppock filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists while Luke Rankin continued his outstanding freshman season with 12 points and five assists.
Trailing 70-62 with 3:53 left to go, Dordt cut the deficit to 70-68 with six consecutive points on a free throw by Coppock, a three-pointer from Bleeker and a put-back by Josh Baugher.
An Ely Doble free throw extended the Morningside lead back to three and the teams traded three-pointers (Bleeker and Trey Powers for Morningside) to put the score at 74-71 with 1:14 left.
Two free throws by Bleeker followed by a blocked shot by Baugher gave the Defenders the basketball back with 20 seconds left and a chance to take the lead. Coppock was fouled on a drive, converted two free throws with just seconds left to the Defenders up for good 75-74.
Dordt shot 53% for the game, 41% (7/17) from the three-point line and held a 33-29 advantage on the boards. The Defenders had a commanding edge at the foul line, making 16-of-22 attempts compared to 2-for-6 by Morningside.
The Defenders trailed 48-40 after a high scoring first half, despite shooting over 60% from the floor.
Morningside was led by Doble with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Aidan Vanderloo scored 14. The Mustangs are now 12-8 overall.
NEXT UP
The Defenders will head to Seward, Neb. for a match-up against (RV) Concordia on Saturday, Feb. 5.
