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HOME OF NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS ATHLETICS
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Nike
mbb-recap-dordt-240224
85
Dordt (IA) Dordt 19-9, 12-8
96
Winner Northwestern NWC 22-6, 15-5
Dordt (IA) Dordt
19-9, 12-8
85
Final
96
Northwestern NWC
22-6, 15-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Dordt (IA) Dordt 28 57 85
Northwestern NWC 45 51 96

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | NWC Athletic Communications

Raiders Topple Defenders to Win Share of GPAC Crown

Finish undefeated at home for first time since 2001-02

ORANGE CITY, Iowa. – A balanced effort seeing all five Raider starters score in double-figures leads Northwestern to a rivalry win, and a share of the GPAC regular season conference title.

"Our guys were locked in on both ends of the floor," head coach Kris Korver stated. "They executed the game plan, played together, and really competed."

Knowing a win would secure a share of the GPAC title and the prized #1 seed in the postseason tournament, the Red Raiders wasted no time imposing their will, starting the game on an 8-0 run. For a team who typically dominates the paint, the Raiders relied on the three, making seven of them in the first seven minutes of the game, three coming from Craig Sterk. The differential would peak at 19 in the half, and the Raiders would head into the break with a comfortable 45-28 lead. The Raiders would hit 11 threes in the half, exceeding their average full-game total of nine. Six different Raiders would score between 6-9 points in the half, with Sterk and Kaleb Booth leading the way with 9.

The Raiders would keep their foot on the gas pedal, extending their lead to as many as 21 halfway through the second half. The Defenders wouldn't go down easily, with their top-ranked GPAC scoring offense catching fire and dwindling the lead down to single-digits with four minutes remaining. In the end, the balanced Raider attack was too much for the Defenders to handle, with all five Raider starters scoring at least 13 points in the game. With the 96-85 win, Northwestern secures their status as GPAC co-champions alongside the Hastings Broncos, their first regular season title since the 2012-2013 season.

Game Notes
  • Kaleb Booth tallies a season-high 17 points on 5/7 shooting from deep.
  • Craig Sterk gets his fourth 20-point game of the season, leading the team with 21.
  • Zach LaFave, with 17 points and 13 rebounds, notches his third double-double of the season.
  • Alex Van Kalsbeek scores 18 points, now only nine away from 2,000 for his career.
  • The Northwestern men have now won six of the last seven meetings against Dordt.
  • The Raiders tallied 21 assists to only nine for the Defenders.
  • Northwestern will be the #1 seed in the GPAC postseason tournament via tiebreaker and have home court advantage throughout.
  • The 15 made three-pointers are a new season high for the Raiders.
  • Northwestern ends the regular season undefeated in the Bultman Center, the first time since the 2001-2002 season.
Up Next: The Raiders will take on the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers in the quarterfinals of the GPAC tournament on Wednesday, February 28. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:45 and will follow the women's game.
Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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