Jimmies can't complete comeback against Dordt in GPAC championship

The 11th-ranked Jimmie men's basketball team looked to complete a sweep of the GPAC regular season and postseason championships, but Dordt (Iowa) University spoiled those hopes with an 86-81 win Tuesday evening at Harold Newman Arena in the GPAC championship game.

Jamestown (25-6) will be one of 16 hosts sites for the NAIA National Championship First and Second Round on March 7-8. Qualifying teams will be announced Thursday at 7 p.m.

The first half featured 11 lead changes, and the Jimmies had the largest lead of the half for either side after Will Cordes scored to make it 29-22 with 5:30 left. A 6-0 Dordt run quickly cut UJ's advantage to one just 69 seconds later.

Reid Gastner made a three-pointer to tie the game at 42 going into halftime. It was the fourth three-pointer of the half for Jamestown, who missed on 11 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc.

Dordt did most of their offensive damage down low, outscoring the Jimmies 48-20 in the paint. The Defenders opened up double-digit leads midway through the second half, going in front by as many as 12 after Trey Hinote scored to make it 71-59 with 9:40 left.

Gastner led Jamestown with 23 points and had six rebounds. Mason Walters finished with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Cordes (14) and Marc Kjos (12) were also in double figures. Kjos had a team-high five assists and two steals.