Men's Basketball Gives #8 Dordt a Scare in 90-79 Loss

(Hastings, NE) – Facing the best team record-wise in the GPAC with only two losses, one of which occurred in their last game, the Hastings Broncos led at halftime, but ultimately fell, 90-79, to the Dordt Defenders on Saturday.

Dordt came out with good execution to take an early 8-2 lead three minutes in. Juniors John Barnhill and Myles Simon scored the next five points to get within one, then after a Defender bucket, freshman Maverick Binder carried over his terrific shooting from last month with a three to tie the game at 10. 

Sophomore David Hageman later gave Hastings the lead with a three and Binder's second triple in two attempts gave Hastings a 16-14 lead with 12:38 left in the half. Sophomore Ben Boudreau later scored five quick points to briefly put Hastings up three. After a third Binder three, he got to the line, making one, then scored on a tough fadeaway as Hastings led by four with eight minutes left.

Leading 29-28, a full court pass from junior DaRon Hall to Hageman led to an and-one and a four-point advantage. Later in the half, a shake-and-bake move into a pull up by Boudreau then put them up five with 3:25 left in the half. Hageman drilled a triple moments after a Dordt basket, as Hastings eventually took a 45-39 lead going into the break.

Both teams shot 57 percent in the first half, but Hastings made 58 percent from three-point range compared to Dordt's 14 percent, making six more from distance for the difference in the scoring. Binder's 16 points led all scorers, along with four rebounds.

Boudreau and Hageman scored five points to begin the second half to extend the lead to nine, but Dordt would calm the storm and eventually cut the lead to 54-52 four minutes into the half. Boudreau drilled a big three off of an offensive rebound, then slithered inside for two. Following a steal, Boudreau found a slashing Hageman for a layup, putting the lead back to seven at the 14:07 mark.

The Defenders put together a 13-2 run to go up 67-63 with 10:10 remaining. Hageman knocked down a tough turnaround, fading away to put a dent in the run, but the Defenders continued to add on to the lead by going up seven with 8:15 left.

On the next possession, Binder knocked down his first three of the second half, then after a Dordt turnover, Boudreau got fouled and made both free throws to get back within two. Trailing 73-70, Hall splashed in a three to even up the score at 73 with 5:26 left. Dordt scored inside and drilled a triple to go back up five with under four to go.

Dordt continued to execute offensively, extending the lead to 11 at the 2:24 mark. Hastings got the deficit to eight on Boudreau's third three of the game, but Dordt drilled dagger three with 1:01 to give Dordt the 90-79 win.

Dordt shot 68 percent in the second half to Hastings' 43 and forced seven of the nine Bronco turnovers in the last 20 minutes. Binder finished with 21 points and five rebounds, while Boudreau had 20 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Hageman also added 16 points, three assists, and two steals.

Up next, Hastings will host Mount Marty at 6:45pm on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in Lynn Farrell Arena.