(BOX SCORE)

As a Westminster player walked past senior Ryan Turk moments before the guard stepped to the line for the second of two free throws, he implored him to miss and give his Blue Jay team a chance.

However on the night in which Turk became the eighth member of Webster's 1,000-point club, he calmly toed the line and sank the free throw giving the Gorloks the unsurmountable four-point lead with seven seconds left as Webster defeated SLIAC-leader Westminster Tuesday, 72-70. The win moves Webster to a game behind the Blue Jays and Fontbonne, both having two conference losses.

Both teams sizzled the nets, shooting greater than 50 percent from the field. Webster converted 54 percent (27-of-54), while Westminster knocked down 52 percent (28-of-54). The biggest difference came from the foul line as Webster was 14-of-18 (77 percent) and WC was just 6-of-9 (67 percent).

Early on it didn't seem like the late heroics would be necessary as the Blue Jays sprinted out to a 13-point lead (27-14) midway through the first half. But when senior Steve Hrdlicka nailed a jumper with 35 seconds left in the half, WU's deficit was two (36-34).

Junior Josue Whitcomb hit three consecutive shots, sparking a Webster rally. The Gorloks scored 13 of the next 14 points to claim a seven-point bulge (49-42) with a little more than 11 minutes left. But, Westminster wouldn't go away quietly.

The Blue Jays responded with a quick spurt of their own to take a one-point lead (54-53). Undeterred the Gorloks boosted its advantage back to nine points (65-56) and withstood a furious rally down the stretch.

Turk led the Gorloks with 16 points to give him 1,002 career markers, while senior Luke Niebrugge added 14 points, including a critical three-point play with 15 seconds left. Whitcomb chipped in with 10 points and a team-high six boards.