Box Score The Webster University 2016-17 men's basketball team opens the regular season with a home date against Washington University on November 15 at Grant Gymnasium. The Gorloks will have a stern test in the opener with the Bears, ranked No. 20 in the D3hoops.com preseason Top-25 Poll. The Gorloks had an exhibition tune-up with a game at NCAA II Drury University on November 12 in Springfield, MO.
The Gorloks fell, 82-75, at Drury after a late rally fell short. Down by 14 with 5:30 remaining, Webster pulled within three, trailing 78-75 with 48 seconds left but would get no closer. Hunter Ward (SR, St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood) led Webster with 16 points, and team-highs with nine rebounds and six assists. Evan Milligan tied Ward for the team-high with 16 points as well.
The Gorloks, who added a whopping ten recruits to help in its quest for a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title, was chosen third in the SLIAC coaches pre-season poll with 65 total points, picking up two first-place votes. The Gorloks went 13-12 overall last season under head coach Chris Bunch and return 13 players including four starters. The Gorloks lost only three seniors to graduation and return four of their top scorers, including leading scorer and rebounder, Ward. Bunch hopes the recruiting class, combined with an experienced group of returnees, puts Webster over the top.
Ward, who averaged 16.2 pts, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, and C.J. Moore (SR, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian HS), who averaged 10.4 ppg, lead a group of returners that include eight players who saw 300+ minutes on the floor for Webster. Ward also finished with a team high 31 three-pointers and Moore added 35 steals.
Senior guards Rabasa Turner (SR, Memphis, TN/St. Benedict@Auburndale) and Adam Etter (SR, Albers, IL/Mater Dei) give the Gorloks an experienced group of starters. Turner averaged 6.8 ppg and led the team in three-point percentage with a .407 mark and Etter averaged 5.9 ppg and 2.5 assists per game. Sophomore center Milligan (Evansville, IN/Central) saw action in 24 games last season as a true freshman, averaging 7.4 ppg while leading the team in blocked shots.
The recruiting class includes players from Indiana, Alabama, and Nevada, as well as three from out-state Missouri and four from the St. Louis area. Nine out of the 10 newcomers are freshmen, with one coming via the junior college route. One incoming freshmen forward may provide immediate help for the Gorloks depth. Enrique Tankins (Wentzville, MO/Timberland) averaged 12 ppg and six rebounds as a high school senior.
Washington U returns four starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's squad, which was 15-10 overall. Game time for the Gorloks/Bears battle wll be at 7:00 p.m.
