It turned out the easiest thing the Webster University men's basketball team needed to have happen on the day was to win its own game, easily dispatching Iowa Wesleyan University, 83-61, on February 20 at Grant Gym. In the balance on the day for the Gorloks was a berth in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament.
Webster entered the day needing a win over Iowa Wesleyan and, with a four-way tie for third place and potential tie-beakers, either a win by Eureka College or a loss by Westminster College, to clinch one of the final spots in the tournament. But both happened, leaving four teams still tied for third, Webster, Eureka, Westminster, and Spalding University, all at 10-8 and throwing the determination process into chaos and many sub-levels.
Without confirming a slide rule was actually employed, final determination as to what two teams filled the final two spots behind MacMurray and Greenville Colleges was finally announced by the conference on Sunday, February 21. Webster was on the outside looking in as Spalding and Westminster locked up the last two berths. It is the first time since the tournament was reinstated in 2005, with a four-team format, that Webster did not make the field. The Gorloks finish the season at 13-12.
Webster had a 43-39 lead at the half. Evan Milligan (FR, Evansville, IN/Evansville Central HS) sparked the Gorloks with 10 points and two blocked shots coming off the bench. Senior Tevin Evans (St. Louis, MO/Chaminade HS) had eight points and six rebounds. Webster shot 51.5% (17-33) in the half. including 7-14 three-pointers.
The Gorloks increased their lead to 52-41 three minutes into the second half and extended it to 58-42 with 15:13 remaining. Webster continued to expand its edge, ballooning to 69-46 with 8:30 left as it coasted to the win.
C.J. Moore (JR, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian HS) led the Gorloks with 22 points, hitting 10 of 17 from the field. Hunter Ward (JR, Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood HS) tried for a triple double, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Ward added three steals for good measure.
Ward finished the season fourth in scoring, first in FT%, seventh in rebounds, sixth in assists, and 10th in steals in the SLIAC. A rarity for a player to be in the top 10 in both major offensive and defensive categories.
Milligan wound up with 15 points, going a perfect 6-6 from the field, including 3-3 from beyond the arc. He also had two blocks in the game. Evans had 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals on the afternoon.
The Gorloks said goodbye to three seniors, who played their final game in a Webster uniform, in a pre-game ceremony. In two years,
Tevin Evans appeared in 24 games for the Gorloks. He averaged 8.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 42% from the field and 71% from the free throw line.
Kevin Smith has been in the Webster basketball program for two years after transferring from the University of Northern Iowa. Kevin was one of the leading scorers for the Gorloks junior varsity team before being promoted to the varsity squad earlier this season.
Taylor Walton was a four-year player for Webster. He appeared in 76 games overall for the Gorloks, starting 15 games this season. In his career at Webster, Taylor has scored 189 points and grabbed 144 rebounds. Walton was named to the SLIAC All-Academic Team three years.
