The Webster University men's basketball team won its fourth straight contest, and fourth straight in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Contest, defeating Westminster College, 79-68, on January 28 at Grant Gym.  The streak put the Gorloks in the thick of the SLIAC title hunt at 8-4.

Webster is just one loss behind Westminster (8-3), who came in as the conference leader. and Iowa Wesleyan (9-3) and Greenville College (8-3).

Webster grabbed a lead early in the first, leading 12-2 before Westminster hit back to back baskets.  The Gorloks extended the lead back to eight, 23-15, at the midway point.  An Adam Etter (SR, Albers, IL/Mater Dei) three-pointer at 8:11 gave Webster a 10-point lead at 28-18.  The Gorloks headed into the locker room with a 48-37 lead.  Tony  Jones (SR, Raymore, MO/Raymore-Peculiar) had eight points and six rebounds as Webster shot a sizzling 64.5% (20-31) from the field for the half.

The Blue Jays whittled away at the Gorlok lead in the second half, closing to within two at 55-53 at 12:40.  After a Westminster turnover, Etter drove the lane for a lay up to put Webster back up by four.  Following another Blue Jay turnover, Rabasa Dobbins-Turner (SR, Memphis, TN/St. Benedict at Auburndale) drained a three from five feet beyond the arc to up the Webster lead to seven, 60-53. 

A three-point play and a three-pointer by Westminster pulled the Blue Jays within three, but lay ups by Evan Milligan (SO, Evansville, IN/Evansville Central) and Enrique Tankins (FR, Wentzville, MO/Timberland) extended the lead back to seven, 66-59, at 9:49.  Westminster continued to battle and reduced the deficit to two, 70-68, before a Jonathan Odjo (SR, West Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) basket put Webster up by four at 4:35.  A Milligan three at 2:11 increased the lead to seven, 75-68.  That shot put a dagger in the Blue Jay comeback as Webster would go on to win.

Jones had his fourth double double in 10 games for the Gorloks, with team-highs in points (16), rebounds (12), and blocks (5).  Jones shot 8-12 (67%) from the field.  Xavier Dortch (SR, Stockton, AL/Faulkner St) had 14 points and Dobbins-Turner had 11.  C.J. Moore (SR, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian) had a team-high six assists and six rebounds.

The Gorloks wound up shooting 58.2% (32-55) overall from the field and 8-15 (53.3%) from the three-point line.  Webster also had 24 assists in the contest and 10 blocks.

Webster's four-game win streak, three of them on the road, has forced the Gorloks back in to the SLIAC battle for first place.  Westminster entered the contest holding down first place in the SLIAC at 8-2.  Webster is currently in fourth at 8-4 and is now 11-8 overall.  Westminster falls to 8-3 and 12-6 overall  The Gorloks lost an overtime thriller to the Blue Jays earlier this season, 98-94, at Fulton, MO.

Webster travels to Eureka College on February 1 and is back home on February 4 to host Iowa Wesleyan University on Hall of Fame day.