Dordt Athletics
Mike Byker, Sports Information Director
SIOUX CENTER – An 18-0 run early in the second half pushed the Dordt Defenders to a 106-72 GPAC win on Saturday afternoon at the DeWitt Gym.
The Defenders (8-4, 4-4 GPAC) never trailed in taking a 13-5 lead after a Ben Gesink three-point shot with just over six minutes gone in the game. Dordt’s first double-digit lead came at 29-18 on a Dejay Fykstra basket but Dordt was unable to stretch the lead further with the Broncos (3-8, 0-7 GPAC) getting within 40-38 with 1:54 left in the half and Dordt settled for a 44-41 halftime lead.
The lead was 48-44 with 18:29 left in the game when the Defenders effectively put the game out of reach with a 29-5 run that was capped by a Kendrick Van Kekerix basket with 12:38 left in the game.
Dordt’s hot second half shooting continued the rest of the game with 29 points scored by Dordt over the final 10:32 for their eighth win of the season.
“Our guys made shots tonight,” Dordt assistant coach Kyle Lindburgh said. “We had 11 threes in the second half and that’s more than we’ve made in most games this year. We knew we were due to see a few go in and hopefully we can keep that momentum rolling.
“Jesse Jansma brings it every night in practice so it was good to see him have a break out night. He was efficient and got to the free throw line a few times. His biggest asset is his ability to pass the ball. To see 15 assists from our five starters is really good.”
Jansma scored a season-high 22 points and had five assists.
Cade Bleeker scored 18 points and had six rebounds and Garrett Franken scored 15 points with 11 rebounds and dished four assists.
Caleb Harmsen and DeJay Fykstra had nine and eight points each and Camden Bialas had seven rebounds.
Hastings was led by Ben Juhl and Karson Gansebom with 14 points each.
Dordt was 40-72 from the field for the entire game for 55.6 percent success and made 24-38 second half shots including 11-22 three-point success.
Hastings was 25-69 from the field for 36 percent success and converted 12-28 three-point shots.
The Defenders had a 47-35 rebounding advantage and had 25 assisted baskets.
Dordt will host Northwestern on Wednesday night before traveling to Yankton, South Dakota to face Mount Marty on Saturday, Dec. 19.