Northwestern College used strong perimeter play on both offense and defense to earn an 89-80 road win over (RV) Dordt in a conference match-up played tonight in Sioux Center.
The Red Raiders sweep the season series and push their win streak to seven straight over the Defenders, improving to 8-6 in the GPAC, 14-9 overall.
Isaac Heyer led all players with 20 points and 10 rebounds, both career highs, for his first double-double as a Red Raider.
Steven Kragt poured in 19 points, matching is career-best with four three-pointers, and both
Trent Hilbrands (18) and
Parker Mulder (12) were also in double figures.
The Red Raiders shot better than 50% in both halves, 54% for the game, and drained 14 of its 28 three-point attempts. They excelled on the defensive end as well, holding Dordt to just 3/15 (20%) from beyond the arc.
Northwestern raced out to a 24-7 lead, riding the hot shooting of Heyer, who hit all three of his three-pointers, and Kragt, who knocked down two a pair from long range, in the first seven minutes . After a Defenders timeout, the hosts outscored NWC 21-9 over a five minute stretch to get within five (33-28) only to have Mulder hit consecutive three-pointers to push the Red Raiders lead back to 11 at the six-minute mark. Korvers' squad led by seven (45-38) at the break.
The Red Raiders lead was cut down to just two twice in the early stages of the second half, the later at 54-52 with 15 minutes left. Northwestern then went on a 10-0 run, beginning and ending with a Hilbrands three-pointer, to go back up by 12, 64-52. Dordt came back slowly, getting to within five at the 10-minute mark, and as close as three (79-76) following a free throw by Ben Gesink with 3:41 left.
Kragt answered with his fourth and final three-pointer and followed with another basket on an assist from
Jay Small to get his team up by eight and spark a decisive 9-4 run over the final minutes to preserve the victory.
Dordt shot 38% for the game, held a 41-34 edge on the boards and had a big advantage at the free throw line, going 21-25 (84%). Zach Bussard provided the spark for the Defenders, coming off the bench to score 19 points and grab seven rebounds. Chad Barkema contributed 17 points and six boards while Garrett Franken added 10 points.
