The Webster University men's basketball team was upset at home, falling to Blackburn College, 71-66, on February 3 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks got off to a rough start in the first half and never were able to overtake the Beavers.

Blackburn led, 47-34, at 11:46 in the second half but a pair of three-pointers by Hunter Ward (JR, Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood HS) helped Webster creep within five at 49-44.  The resilient Beavers still had the lead at 57-50 with 6:00 remaining when a Rabasa Turner (JR, Memphis, TN/St. Benedict at Auburndale) three-pointer cut it to 57-53.  The teams continued to battle back and forth with a pair of Evan Milligan (FR, Evansville, IN/Evansville Central HS) layups keeping Webster withing striking distance at 61-57, but the Gorloks would get no closer.

The Gorloks started off slow as molasses in the first half, falling behind 36-24.  Webster didn't shoot poorly, hitting 10-23 for 43%, but took a beating on the boards.  The Gorloks were outrebound, 21-13 overall, but 11-2 on the offensive boards giving the Beavers 12 second chance points in the half.  Blackburn would finish with 17 offensive boards to Webster's seven and held a 40-31 edge in rebounds overall.

Ward led the Gorloks with 19 points and seven rebounds.  Xavier Dortch (JR, Stockton, AL/Faulkner State CC) had 14 points on 6-8 shooting and Milligan finished with 12 points, three blocks and three rebounds.  Turner had eight points and five rebounds.

Webster is 7-6 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 10-10 overall.  The loss snaps a three-game win streak for Webster and completes a season sweep for the Beavers over the Gorloks, the first time that has happened since 2006-07.  Blackburn is 6-7 and 7-13 overall.

Former Gorlok basketball center, Aaron Griffin, gave the crowd a thrill after his name was randomly selected for a half court shot contest by Webster sponsor Raising Cane's.  Griffin, known for his inside scoring and rebounding, hit nothing but net on his first try, winning Raising Cane's chicken for a year.

Webster travels down the Boulevard to resume the 'Battle of Big Bend' at Fontbonne University on February 6.  The game has been selected as the SLIAC Game of the Week.  The Gorloks then travel to Jacksonville, IL, to face MacMurray College on February 10.