Hawks downed by Northwestern

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The Dickinson State men’s basketball team had its hands full with seventh-ranked team in the nation Northwestern College.

The Blue Hawks made up for its tough start, but couldn’t find enough offense as the Red Raiders won 76-60 in the second round of the Northwestern Pizza Ranch Classic in Orange City, Iowa.

“I think the defensive effort wasn’t too bad,” Dickinson State head coach Ty Orton said. “We were there. Overall our defense was there in the half-court.

“Our offense was really lacking, we stood a lot.”

Northwestern also got the luxury of playing at home.

“They are obviously going to play a little more confidently,” Orton said. “They are just a well disciplined team. Every guy does exactly what their job is.”

DSU trailed 23-2 to start the game. The Blue Hawks didn’t go quietly chipping away until it was a seven-point game in the second half.

“It was roughly a 10-point game in the second half,” Orton said. “We just didn’t move the ball, the way we needed to.”

The Blue Hawks were led by Matt Lee with his second double-double of the classic, 10 points and 13 rebounds. John Hanstad, a Dickinson High graduate, supplied 13 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Casper Hesseldal finished off the big scoring for DSU with 10 points and six rebounds.

“John still didn’t shoot the ball extremely well,” Orton said. “He cut better and blocked out better.”

Zack Leeper led Northwestern with 18 points and six rebounds. Ben Miller and Stuart Goslinga each added 12 points for the Red Raiders.

DSU hopes to get back on the winning page against Minnesota-State Mankato today at 4 p.m.

“You play the seventh in nation and I think we were right there with them,” Orton said. “You take away the first five minutes of game and we played with them the rest of the game.

“We just need to get through and win those tight games.”

Dickinson State (3-5): Casper Hesseldal 5-15 0-0 10, Ryan Kittleson 1-3 4-4 6, Tevin Hurd 2-7 0-2 5, Matt Lee 3-6 4-9 10, John Hanstad 4-10 2-2 13, Donavyn Persley 0-2 1-6 1, Robbie Morey 1-4 0-0 2, Brock Boos 1-1 0-0 3, Isaiah Thomas 0-1 1-2 1, Jerek Hansen 2-7 2-2 7, Connor Cunningham 1-1 0-0 2, Carl Dynneson 0-0 0-0 0, Destry Sterkel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-57 14-27 60.

Northwestern College (5-0): Jon Kramer 3-6 0-2 8, Ben Miller 4-10 4-6 12, Zack Leeper 7-15 2-2 18, Daniel Van Kalsbeek 1-5 0-0 2, Stuart Goslinga 4-7 4-5 12, Mike Vorwald 0-1 0-2 0, Kurt Korver 1-1 0-0 3, Jacey Hoegh 1-1 0-0 2, Ryan Stock 3-5 0-1 8, Karic Wiertzema 0-1 0-0 0, Josh VanderPlaats 2-3 0-0 5, Mark Miedema 2-3 2-2 6, Will Hieber 0-0 0-0 0, Levi Ettleman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 28-59 12-20 76.

Halftime: NC 47, DSU 26. Total fouls: DSU 19, NC 23. Technical fouls: DSU, (team). Fouled out: DSU, (Hanstad). 3-point goals: DSU 6-23 (Hesseldal 0-3, Kittleson 0-1, Hurd 1-3, Lee 0-1, Hanstad 3-8, Morey 0-3, Boos 1-1, Hansen 1-3), NC 8-20 (Kramer 2-2, Miller 0-2, Leeper 2-7, Vorwald 0-1, Korver 1-1, Stock 2-4, Wietzema 0-1, VanderPlaats 1-1, Ettleman 0-1). Rebounds: DSU 29 (Lee 12), NC 49 (Goslinga 13). Assists: DSU 9 (Kittleson 3), NC 18 (Kramer 7). Steals: DSU 12 (Hurd 3), NC 6 (Miller 2). Blocks: DSU 1 (Hesseldal 1), NC 2 (Miedema 2). Turnovers: DSU 11 (Hurd 3), NC 19 (Miedema 3, Kramer 3, Van Kalsbeek 3).

Tags: sports, basketball, blue, hawks