The Webster University men's basketball team rebounded from a tough loss at MacMurray to defeat Fontbonne University, 75-64, on January 18 in Clayton, MO.  The Gorloks withstood a second half rally by the Griffins to improve to 5-4 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The score was see-sawing back and forth in the first half before the Gorloks pulled ahead for a 27-21 lead.  The Griffins hit back to back three-pointers to tie it at 27-27 all, but an Adam Etter (SR, Albers, IL/Mater Dei) lay up off a C.J. Moore (SR, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian) steal sent Webster into the locker room up, 29-27.  Moore and Tony Jones (SR, Raymore, MO/Raymore-Peculiar) both had eight points for the half.  Evan Milligan (SO, Evansville, IN/Evansville Central) had a team-high six rebounds.

Both teams had rough going from the field with Webster shooting at a 28.9% (11-38) clip and Fontbonne at 35.5% (11-31).  The Gorloks had a slight edge in rebounds, 26-23, but scored 16 of their points off turnovers compared to the Griffins five.

A lay up by Moore and a three-pointer by Xavier Dortch (SR, Stockton, AL/Faulkner St) increased the Gorlok lead to 34-27 to open the second half.  Moore dropped in another lay up to extend the run to 7-0.  The Griffins went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 36-32.  Despite four straight missed free throws by Webster, the Gorloks were able to break the drought with a pair of threes by Dortch and to take a 42-32 lead.  Fontbonne went on a 12-2 run to tie the game 44-44 at 10:40.

Moore hit a pair of free throws, and Tehvynn Crenshaw (SR, Mobile, AL/Murphy) and Moore hit lay ups to put Webster back on top 52-46 at 8:40.  Dortch added a lay up to make it an 8-0 run for Webster and a 54-46 lead at 7:44.    A Crenshaw rebound and lay up extended the Gorlok lead to 58-49 at 5:12.  The Griffins wouldn't go away and a three-pointer at 3:55 cut the Gorlok lead to 60-55.

Moore hit a free throw at 3:19 for a 61-55 lead.  Milligan hit a pair of free throws at 2:37 to extend the lead to eight at 63-55.  The Griffins hit a three to cut the lead to 64-60 at 1:57 but Milligan responded with a jumper at 1:31 and Webster coasted to the win.

In just his second start of the season, Dortch finished with a career high 23 points on 6-12 shooting, including 4-9 from the three-point line and 7-8 from the free throw line.  Moore had 17 points, four rebounds, and three steals.  Jones had a double double, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and blocking six shots coming off the bench.  Crenshaw had eight points and five rebounds coming off the bench as well.

As a team, Webster forced 20 turnovers in the game and had 13 steals on the night.

Webster had a 16-game win streak vs. Fontbonne snapped last February in a 67-61 loss at home.  The Gorloks had won 22 of the previous 24 meetings between the two schools before that loss.

Webster is now 5-4 and in fifth in the SLIAC, and is 8-8 overall.  The Gorloks have one more game remaining on their four-game road stretch, traveling to Greenville College (IL) on January 24, before returning home on January 24 to host Principia College (IL).