The Webster University men's basketball team lost in second round action of the Cavallo Classic, 83-70, to Rust College on November 28 at Grant Gymnasium.  Rust took a lead early in the contest that it never relinquished, despite a few runs by the Gorloks.

Webster started with a 6-0 lead but Rust responded with a 14-4 run to take a 14-10 lead.  The Bearcats extended their lead at one point in the half to 40-26 before the teams entered the locker room with Rust up, 42-30.  Rust was 5-7 from the three-point line while Webster misfired at 1-8 for the half. 

Gorloks started out on a 6-0 again in the second half to cut the deficit to five, 42-36, but the Bearcats crept back out to a 10 point lead.  After a C.J. Moore (JR, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian HS) layup, Davian Joseph (JR, Philadelphia, PA/Lewis & Clark CC) had a steal and dunk, then followed it with a layup on Webster's next possession to inch the Gorloks within four, 49-45.  Rust would extend the lead back to nine, 58-49, with 10:20 remaining.

The Gorloks would never get closer than six points the rest of the way, with the Bearcats leading by as many as 13, 66-53, with 5:20 left in the contest. Webster wound up 1-12 from the three point line, and was just 11-18 (61%) from the free throw line.  The Bearcats beat the Gorloks on the boards, outrebounding them 42-32.

Hunter Ward (JR, Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood HS) led Webster with 21 points, and Joseph finished with 17, while Moore had 16 on the afternoon.  Moore had a team-high seven rebounds, with Ward grabbing six and Taylor Walton (SR, Okawville, IL/Okawville HS) had five.  Ward also led the Gorloks with five assists.

Ward averaged 20.5 points, seven rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in the Classic, leading to him being named MVP.  The rest of the All-Classic team included: Deavis Johnson – MacMurray College, Brent Long – MacMurray, Ben Shannon – Rust College, Curtis Stuckey – Rust, and Kevin Stafford – Luther College.

Webster, an 81-64 winner over Luther College (IA) in first round action, fell to 1-3 on the season.  Rust, located in Holly Springs, MS, improved to 3-4 on the year.  Rust in an NCAA III independent member.  In the other second round game in the Classic, Luther College (IA) defeated MacMurray College (IL), 77-75.  Rust, now 3-4 on the year, is from Holly Springs, MS, and is an NCAA III Independent.

The Gorloks travel to Greenville College (IL) on December 2 to open play in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.