The Webster University men's basketball got a huge first win of the season in the Consolation game of the Lopata Classic, with a 93-91 win over Wabash College (IN) on November 18 in Clayton, MO. Josh Johnson led the Webster comeback with 18 points as the Gorloks wound up hitting 15 three-pointers in the victory.
Webster took a 9-0 lead to start the contest, but a 21-3 run by Wabash put them in a 21-12 hole. Webster wound up down 51-42 at the half. The Gorloks had a tough time on the boards, being out-rebounded, 23-13. Rodson Etienne (FR, West Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) had 11 points for Webster in the half and Enrique Tankins (SO, Wentzville, MO/Timberland) had 10. Webster hit 6-15 (40%) of it's three-pointers in the half, but Wabash drained 10 of 19. Webster did a great job taking care of the ball, with only two turnovers in the half, but still trailed.
In the second, the Little Giants extended their lead to 15, 62-47, five minutes into the half. After a block and rebound by Tankins, Parker Van Nest (SR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) canned a three to make it 62-50, with Tankins getting the assist. A three-pointer by Elijah Macias (FR, San Antonio, TX/Medina Valley) cut the deficit to eight, 64-56, and seconds later Macias hit another to make it a seven-point deficit at 66-59, with 10:11 to go.
A jumper by Marvin Saintolien (FR, North Miami, FL/North Miami) closed the Gorloks within two, at 73-71, at 6:21. Down 76-71, a three-pointer by Christian Crespo (FR, Royal Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) and a lay up by Etienne tied it at 76-76 with 4:48 remaining. After a pair of Wabash lay ups pulled them back ahead, 80-76, Webster called a timeout at 3:43. The Gorloks responded with a three-pointer by Josh Johnson (SO, St. Louis, MO/Clayton) at 3:26 to make it a one point game at 80-79. Another three by Johnson at 2:02 tied it back up at 82-82. Tankins put the Gorloks ahead with a pair of free throws at 1:39, 84-82.
The Little Giants tied it back up, at 84-84, on a pair of free throws at 1:16. Webster missed a pair of free throws of their own at 1:02, but regained possession after a Little Giant miss at 0:53. Nigel Wilcox (FR, Alpharetta, GA/Centennial) rebounded a Johnson miss and laid it in for a Webster 86-84 lead with 22 seconds left on the clock. Wabash tied it on a lay up with 0:14 remaining as Webster called timeout. A missed three at the buzzer sent the game into overtime.
In OT, a Crespo jumper after a block by Wilcox put Webster up, 90-88 at 3:41. Wabash tied it as both team had turnovers and misses over the next three minutes. Webster got the ball at 0:33 in OT after a Wabash miss as the Little Giants called timeout. The Gorloks were fouled with 10 seconds left, and Johnson went to the line and hit the first to give Webster a 91-90 lead as Wabash took another timeout. After Johnson hit the second, Webster called a timeout with 10 seconds still on the clock. A Webster foul sent the Little Giants to the free throw line with four seconds left as Webster took another timeout. Wabash hit the first but missed the second shot that would have tied the game. Etienne went to the line with two seconds left and hit one as Wabash missed a desperation three-pointer as the Gorloks won 93-91.
Johnson finished with a team-high 18 points and five assists. Etienne (14), Tankins (12), and Crespo (11) all had double figures. Tankins had a team-high 10 rebounds. The Gorloks had 15 three-pointers in 34 attempts (44%) and finished with a measly five turnovers.
Wabash, a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, falls to 0-2. The Little Giants lost in the first round of the Classic to host Washington University, ranked ninth in the country, 82-70.
The Gorloks have their home opener on November 21 as they host Millikin University (IL) at Grant Gymnasium. The annual Webster Classic will take place on November 24-25 at Grant, with the Gorloks facing Coe College (IA) in first round action on the 24th.
