Fremont, Nebraska — The Dordt Defender men’s basketball team earned an 88-83 road win over Midland on Saturday afternoon in Fremont, Nebraska.
The Defenders never trailed after the opening moments when a Cade Bleeker put them up 6-5 with 18:23 left in the first half. The Defenders stretched the lead to five only to have the hosts come back and tie the game at 19-19 midway through the first half.
The game was tied again at 21-21 before a Caleb Harmsen basket unlocked the tie and ignited a 9-0 run that was capped by Jacob Vis’s second three-point shot of the game. A Bleeker three with 3:30 left in the half gave Dordt its biggest advantage, a 12-point bulge that ended up being nine points at halftime 42-33.
Midland was never able to get closer than six in the first nine minutes of the second half and Dordt actually had the lead at 59-48 near the midpoint of the half. The difference was still 69-61 after Vis hit two free throws with 5:49 left but the Warriors owned the remainder of regulation, knocking down several mid-range jumpers to eventually tie the contest at 73-73. The Defenders were unable to get a shot off with under ten seconds to go and Midland, after a desperation three from midcourt bounced off the rim, sent the game to overtime tied 73-73.
Caleb Harmsen started the overtime scoring with a pair of free throws and Vis got a basket after Midland had tied it. An Emmanuel Bryson three-point shot was off the mark on the next possession and Cade Bleeker’s long three put Dordt up by two possessions and that changed the complexion of the rest of the game.
Dordt’s lead was 86-83 after Vis converted a field goal, but missed a free throw. Midland got the ball to Bo Sandquist and the senior, who is making nearly 40 percent of his three-point shots, missed a shot and Bryce Coppock made two free throws to seal the 88-83 win.
Vis led all players with 30 points and 11 rebounds with two assists in 38 minutes of play.
Bryce Coppock converted 27 with six assists and Bleeker was 6-8 from the field for 16 points and six rebounds.
Josh Baugher came off the bench to take in six rebounds as Dordt had a 39-33 rebounding edge.
Midland was paced by Bryson with 25 points and six rebounds on 11=17 field goal shooting and he converted 3-7 three-point shots after entering the game 2-15 from the arc.
Dordt is 10-3 and 2-2 in the league while Midland is 9-4 and 2-3.
Dordt will host Northwestern on Wednesday and Dakota Wesleyan in a week to conclude first semester play.
