Box Score Back into its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule, the Webster University men’s basketball team opened up a big first half lead but had to hold off Blackburn College (IL), beating the Beavers 67-62, on January 28.  The Gorloks won their ninth straight SLIAC contest, improving to 9-0 on the season in the league.

Webster jumped to a 36-20 halftime lead, with a stiff defense holding Blackburn to eight baskets in 28 attempts (28%), while the Gorloks sank 17 of 38 shots.  The Beavers turned the tables on the Gorloks in the second, holding Webster to eight baskets in 20 attempts while sinking 17 of 35 for the half.

The Gorloks, who had no free throw attempts in the first half, sank 12 of 18 from the line in the second.  Webster, who has the 13^th lowest average number of fouls per contest in the NCAA III so far this season, only committed nine in the contest to Blackburn’s 17.  The Beavers only went to the charity stripe four times in the game.
 
Stefan Whittingham (SO, Ft. Lauderdale HS, FL) led Webster with 15 points on six of nine shooting from the field.  Hollis Edwards (SO, McGavock HS, TN) chipped in with 13 points and led the Gorloks with four steals.  Ahmad Smith (FR, Clayton HS) came off the bench to lead Webster with six rebounds and had eight points.  Cody Bradfisch (JR, Jerseyville HS, IL) also hit double figures with 10 points, with all three of his baskets coming from the three-point line.

Webster evened its season record at 9-9 on the season. The Gorloks travel to Westminster College on February 1.  The Blue Jays, the pre-season pick to win the SLIAC, have foundered and are battling for a top four spot to assure themselves of a conference tournament berth.  Webster returns home on February 4 to play Eureka College (IL) on Hall of Fame day at Grant Gymnasium.  Three new members of the Webster Athletics Hall of Fame will be inducted at halftime of the men’s game.