Box Score Improving to 5-3 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Webster University men's basketball team downed Fontbonne University, 65-54, on January 17 at Grant Gymnasium. Center Aaron Griffin had a double double and guard Jonathan Odjo set a team free throw record, to lead the Gorloks in the victory.
Griffin (SR, Farm Haven, MS/Velma Jackson HS) finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, the fourth time in his last five games he has reached double figures in both categories. Griffin is averaging 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Odjo (SO, West Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast HS) went 15-15 from the free throw line, giving him the highest number of throws made in a game a player has been perfect from the line for Webster. His 15 free throws are the third highest in a game for Webster, and the most since Corey Kuhn made 17 vs. Greenville on February 21, 2006.
Odjo wound up with a game-high and a personal career high 20 points in the contest. Odjo's previous high of 13 points came in a 69-54 win vs. Dominican University last season. Ward had 16 points and nine rebounds on the afternoon, just missing a double double himself. Ward is averaging 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game on the season.
Fontbonne took an early lead, 11-6, in the first half. A Griffin layup at 10:10 tied it up at 11-11. Fontbonne pulled ahead, 20-13, with 3:50 left, but a Webster 9-0 run to end the half gave it a 23-20 lead at the break.
Fontbonne once again took an early lead in the second half, 25-24, but an 8-0 by Webster put the Gorloks back up on top, 32-25 witht 14:30 remaining. Webster maintained the lead for the duration of the game. Every time the Griffins crept within striking distance, the Gorloks had an answer. A Hunter Ward (SO, St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood HS) bucket and free throw at the 2:50 mark made it 52-44, and a Webster victory was in hand.
Webster went to the free throw line 32 times, its second most on the season, and connected on 24 for a .750 percent for the game. The Gorloks' 12 turnovers in the game was the team's second lowest total on the season.
One blemish in the game came at the 16:00 mark in the first half when the team's leading scorer, Ahmad Smith (SR, St. Louis, MO/Clayton HS) went down with a leg injury. Smith, averaging 15.9 points per game, did not return to the contest.
The Gorloks have won 15 straight against the Griffins, dating back to February 2008. Webster leads the overall series in SLIAC play vs. Fontbonne, 30-22.
After losing three of its last four SLIAC contests, the win over Fontbonne was a much needed victory for the pre-season favorites in the conference. Webster is tied for fourth with Eureka College at 5-3. The Gorloks are 9-6 overall on the season.
Webster travels to Carlinville, IL, on January 21 to face Blackburn College. The Gorloks are back home on January 24 as they host Westminster College at Grant Gymnasium.
