It took 10 extra minutes, but when the final horn sounded Webster evened its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record and kept rival Fontbonne on its losing streak.
The Gorloks improved to 4-6 overall, 2-2 in the SLIAC, while Fontbonne lost its sixth straight game in falling to 6-6, 2-2. With one home conference loss in the books, Webster wanted to prevent dropping a second one in the friendly confines of Grant Gymnasium.
Things looked bleak early as the Griffins raced out to a 14-point lead halfway through the first half. However, a jumper from
Steve Hrdlicka and three-pointer from
Tyler Tieman kick started the Gorloks, pushing them on a 17-7 run that pulled them to within four.
But, Fontbonne had an immediate answer with seven straight, and eventually took an eight point lead into the half.
A fastbreak dunk by
Nick Jones energized the crowd and pulled the home team to within one point just four minutes into the second half. Once again, however, it was the Griffins with an answer - pushing its advantage back to seven points. Webster wouldn't allow its guest to run and hide with the leads and pulled even on two free throws by
Josue Whitcomb with a little under three minutes remaining.
Senior
Ryan Turk, who was held scoreless in the first half, gave Webster the lead with 1:54 left. A lead that last 30 seconds as Fontbonne found the equalizer. Both teams had chances to win it down the stretch, and the Gorloks even had their final attempt roll around the rim before falling to the floor as time expired.
Three missed free throws in the final minute of the first overtime allowed Fontbonne to hang close and force a second overtime on a jumper with three seconds remaining.
In preventing a bad case of deja vu, Webster drilled 10 straight free throws in the second extra session to open up a nine-point bulge with 38 seconds left. A couple late threes, including one at the buzzer, tightened up the final score.
Hrdlicka turned in his best performance of the season, dropping in a career-high 18 points with five rebounds and two assists, while Turk finished the game with 22 points. Jones added 20 points and a team-high eight boards in the victory.
Webster (4-6 overall, 2-2) won't have anytime to revel in victory as they will host its third game in five days when they host future SLIAC team, Spalding, 7:30 p.m. Friday.
QUOTES
Head Coach Chris Bunch
Initial Comments
"That was a drainer. I told the guys in the locker room that we didn't plan on playing just six guys down the stretch. But, it hard to run cold guys in there. Steve Hrdlicka had his best game of the year."
on the importance of a quick start in second half
"It was very important. We have had halves where we let teams get 2-3 buckets and we are down 12 to 14 and climbing back up the mountain. Not to knock Fontbonne's conditioning, but they just played a game (on Monday) where 300 points were scored between the two teams.
on Turk in the second half
"He was doing things in the second half that I like to see from him. He was curling on screens, getting layup, and getting fouled in the lane. I thought he moved better in setting up screens. We worked on getting him open with some screens and it didn't take shape until the second half."
on the remaining schedule
"We can talk about what this helps or sets up. We just need to come to practice tomorrow and get ready for Friday. We just need to have some success. There is a lot of basketball to be played. Inch by inch, its a cinch; yard by yard, things get hard."
