Box Score Despite a big night by Ahmad Smith, the Webster University men's basketball team lost to Washington University, 80-70, at Grant Gymnasium on December 10.  Webster battled back from a 15-point deficit in the first half but never could overtake the Bears, ranked #3 nationally in the NCAA III.

The Gorloks pulled to within two, 29-27, with three minutes left in the first half after trailing, 25-10, with 8:30 to go.  But the Bears had a 6-0 run to end the half and took a 37-27 lead into the locker room. 

A pair of three pointers by Adam Etter (SO, Albers, IL/Mater Dei HS) in the early going in the second half kept the Gorloks hanging around, but Webster couldn't mount a sustained run in the half.  At one point Webster fell behind by 17 before grinding back within 10-11 points.

Washington U. shot 51% from the field for the game compared to Webster's 43%, and outrebounded the Gorloks, 42-32.  The #3 Bears improved to 9-0 with the win.

Smith (SR, St. Louis, MO/Clayton HS) finished the night with 33 points, just missing his career high of 34, set last season.  Smith shot 13-19 from the field and had five rebounds for the game.  Smith's season scoring average improved to 17.9 with his output.  If Smith were to maintain that average for the season, it would put him in Webster's top ten all-time high for a single season.

C.J. Moore (SO, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian HS) had 14 points and had three steals for Webster.  Hunter Ward (SO, St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood HS) had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Gorloks are 6-3 overall on the season. Webster has over a week off then before hosting Central College (IA) on December 19 at Grant Gymnasium, in what is believed to be the first meeting ever between the two programs.  The Gorloks next SLIAC contest is on January 3, at Eureka College.