The Webster University men's basketball team's upset bid of #20 ranked Washington University fell short as the Gorloks lost, 79-72, at the Hilltop on December 9.  Webster was tied with Wash U with 5:49 left in the contest but the Bears pulled away in the game's final minutes to secure the victory.

In the second half, a three-pointer followed by a pair of free throws by Adam Etter (JR, Albers, IL/Mater Dei HS) brought Webster within one, 43-42, at the 16:55 mark.  A layup by C. J. Moore (JR, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian HS) on a nifty assist by Hunter Ward, at 15:12, put Webster back on top, 45-43.  The lead went back and forth over the next 11 minutes with a layup by Etter tying the game at 61-61 at 5:49.  But Wash U would reel off five straight points to pull ahead, 66-61, with 4:28 remaining. 

A layup and three-pointer by Ward (JR, Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood HS) brought the Gorloks back within two, 68-66, with 3:35 on the clock.  But the Bears extended the lead to four and hit their free throws down the stretch as Webster missed out on its upset bid.

The Gorloks took a 6-2 lead to start the game and were tied, 20-20, at the 9:34 mark in the first half.  Webster led, 29-24, after a layup by Ward at 4:23, before Wash U outscored the Gorloks 15-6 over the final four minutes of the period.  Moore had eight points for Webster, and Xavier Dortch (JR, Stockton, AL/Faulkner St. CC) and Ward each had seven points in the first half.

Webster shot 47% (15-32) for the first half while Wash U hit 53% (16-30) from the field.  Moore was 4-5 in the period.  The Gorloks were 4-7 from beyond the arc but only went to the free throw line one time (1-1) to the Bears five trips (5-5).

The Gorloks wound up shooting 44% for the game, including 47% (7-15) from the three-point line, to the Bears 53%.  Webster got to the free throw line just 10 times (9-10) to Wash U's 18 (16-18).  Wash U won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Webster, 36-27, but the Gorloks only committed seven turnovers in the contest.

Moore led Webster with 13 points, and Ward and Tevin Evans (SR, St. Louis, MO/Chaminade HS) each had 12 points for the game.  Ward also had a team-high six assists and is averaging 3.8 per game on the season.  Davian Joseph (JR, Philadelphia, PA/Lewis & Clark CC) led Webster with eight rebounds.

Webster falls to 3-4 with the loss and Washington U  improves to 6-1. Webster was 3-1 in its previous four games, breaking the 80-point mark in all four contests.

The Gorloks travel to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to play in the Trip Sports Cruzin' Classic on December 19-20, where they will take on Trinity Baptist College (FL) and Ave Maria University (FL).  Webster returns to action in the SLIAC on January 2, when they play Blackburn College at Carlinville, IL.