Dordt Athletics
Mike Byker, Sports Information Director
YANKTON, S.D. – The Dordt Defenders used a 15-0 run to take control of their game with Mount Marty and went on to take a 97-80 road win in GPAC play Saturday afternoon.
Mount Marty (7-7, 4-5 GPAC) led and controlled most of the first half, leading by as much as nine points at 36-27 with 7:01 left in the half. Dordt mounted a rally and tied it 40-40 with 2:03 left in the half on a Jacob Vis basket but Mount Marty’s Elijah Pappas scored four unanswered to give the hosts a 44-40 lead at halftime and Pappas had 20 points at the break.
Dordt (10-4, 6-4 GPAC) tied it again at 48 on Ben Gesink’s second three-point shot but Dordt was unable to take the lead and trailed 57-55 with 14:18 left in the game. A Jesse Jansma basket tied the game and Garrett Franken’s basket with 13:36 left gave Dordt it’s second lead of the game and an advantage it wouldn’t relinquish.
Six straight points by Dejay Fykstra pushed the lead to eight and the lead was eventually 68-57 with 10:40 left in the game as Jacob Vis’s three-point play capped the 13-0 run as Mount Marty was held without a point for about four minutes.
The hosts were unable to put together an answer and Dordt led by as many as 20 before settling for a 97-80 win.
“We made a couple adjustments on offense in the second half and came out and executed really well,” head coach Brian Van Haaften. “The guys came out and passed the ball really well…Mount Marty has a really nice team and they are really good defensively and get their hands on a lot of passes so we turned it over a few too many times.
“I thought our inside game was excellent and Dejay Fykstra was great today. Garrett Franken did a nice job around the basket as did Jacob Vis and Camden. That’s were our advantage was in this game and guys got it to them. Jesse had seven assists and Garrett had four….just a good night all the way around.”
Jansma had 18 points and six rebounds with seven assists and a steal. Garrett Franken had 18 points and six rebounds with four assists.
Dejay Fykstra had a career high 16 points while converting 5-5 field goals and Cade Bleeker added 15 points. Jacob Vis added 14 and had five rebounds.
Mount Marty’s Elijah Pappas had 27 points and six assists.
“We made a couple adjustments on offense in the second half and came out and executed really well. The guys came out and passed the ball really well…Mount Marty has a really nice team and they are really good defensively and get their hands on a lot of passes so we turned it over a few too many times. I thought our inside game was excellent and Dejay Fykstra was great today. Garrett Franken did a nice job around the basket as did Jacob Vis and Camden. That’s were our advantage was in this game and guys got it to them. Jesse had seven assists and Garrett had four….just a good night all the way around.”
Dordt will host Midland on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 4:00 pm.