November 13, 2024

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Dordt (Iowa) held Dakota State (S.D.) to 30.7 percent from the field to build a 38-24 halftime lead Wednesday evening in the men's basketball action at the Sanford Sports Complex.  The Defenders never trailed in the game, earning an 89-62 victory over the Trojans. 

Dakota State fell to 4-3 overall record after the setback.  Dordt, who received votes recognition in the first edition of the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, remained undefeated with 5-0 overall record.

The Trojans step aside their regular season play as they play an exhibition game Thursday evening.  DSU visits NCAA Division II Nebraska-Kearney with a 6 p.m. tip-off at Health & Sports Center in Kearney, Neb.

(RV) Dordt (Iowa) 89, Dakota State (S.D.) 62 – FINAL

Lucas Lorenzen scored 11 points to spark Dordt's 13-6 opening run, capped with a 3-pointer with fifteen minutes and nineteen seconds on the clock in the first.

Lane Tietz drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Tyler Beckwith) as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 13-9 with 13:44 to go in the first half.

After Tietz hit a basket as Dakota State trained 20-16, Dordt went on an 8-0 run to balloon their lead to 28-16 with 4:31 on the clock in the first half after Jake Hargens' basket.

DSU's Tietz made a basket when time expired in the first half, trailing 38-24.  Dordt was 15-of-35 from the field and 6-of-18 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes.  Dakota State was held to 8-of-26 field goals in the first half.

Dordt maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, outscoring Dakota State 51-38 in the second half.  The Defenders shot a blazing 57.6 percent from the field (19-of-33 field goals) compared to the Trojans 44.8 percent (13-of-29 field goals) in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Tietz led DSU with 14 points on his 6-of-13 field goals and grabbed five rebounds off the bench.  He contributed three assists.  Taine Mitchell added eight points and pulled down a season-high nine rebounds.  He also dished out four assists and hit all six free throw attempts.  Lukas Morgan scored nine points off the bench on his 3-of-3 field goals and made both free throws.

Aiden Jensen tallied eight points for the Trojans.  Colby Dillenbeck scored five points and five rebounds.  Beckwith had four points and three assists.  Brayden Pankonen recorded six rebounds.

Mitchell, Dillenbeck, Tietz, and Ethan Slaathaug each recorded a steal for Dakota State.

Lorenzen finished with a game-high 25 points on his 8-of-13 field goals, including 4-of-8 3-pointers, and hit 5-of-7 free-throws for DU.  He had six rebounds and two steals.  Bryce Coppock added 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists.  Jake Hargens scored 11 points and collected five rebounds off the bench. 

Luke Rankin, Ben Fairclough, Jake Proctor, and Ty Van Essen each had six points.  Rankin produced seven assists.

Dordt shot 50 percent overall from the field (34-of-68 field goals) compared to Dakota State 38.2 percent (21-of-55 field goals). The Defenders drained 11 3-pointers in 32 attempts, while the Trojans hit three 3-pointers in 19 attempts.

DSU was 17-of-25 from the free-throw line (68 percent).  DU was 10-of-15 free throws (66.7 percent).

Dakota State edged Dordt 39-38 in rebounding.  The Defenders outscored the Trojans 22-2 in points off turnovers. 

DSU outscored DU 43-35 in bench points.