Despite leading throughout the contest, the Webster University men's basketball team lost on a three-pointer by Iowa Wesleyan University, 85-84, on January 4 in Mt. Pleasant, IA.  The Gorloks watched a 12-point lead disappear in the last three minutes of the game with a three-pointer at :03 giving the Tigers the win.

Webster had taken a 36-30 halftime lead and, after trading baskets with Wesleyan for the first nine minutes of the second half, quickly built a 13-point lead accented by an Evan Milligan (SO, Evansville, IN/Evansville Central) dunk at 7:42 to take a 62-49 lead.  Webster still led by 12 on a Jonathan Odjo (SR, West Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) jumper with 3:11 remaining, 76-64.  But then the proverbial wheels came off for the Gorloks.

Multiple Webster turnovers helped contribute to a Wesleyan 11-0 run that cut the lead to 76-75 with 2:01 left in the game.  After a lay up by Hunter Ward (SR, St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood) gave Webster a 78-75 lead, Wesleyan closed to 78-77 before a Xavier Dortch (SR, Stockton, AL/Faulkner St.) three-pointer made it 81-77.  The Tigers responded with a three of their own but a basket and free throw by Ward gave Webster an 84-80 lead with 18 seconds on the clock.

The Tigers closed to within two, 84-82, on a jumper and after a missed Webster free throw, hit a three at the other end with three seconds in the game to take an 85-84 lead.  The Gorloks were unable to get off a shot as they took the tough loss.

Ward finished with a team-high 19 points on 9-15 shooting, and tied for the team lead in rebounds with six.  Ward also had five assists and added three blocks in the game.  Milligan had 17 points on 8-13 shooting and tied Ward with six rebounds while blocking four shots.  Dortch had 12 points and Adam Etter (SR, Albers, IL/Mater Dei) added 10.  Webster shot a respectable 51.5% (34-66) for the game, including 8-18 from beyond the arc.  The Gorloks also out rebounded the Tigers, 39-31, and had nine blocks, but wasn't enough for a win.

Wesleyan canned 15-29 three-pointers (51.7%), shooting 45.3% overall in the contest.

The match up was the SLIAC Game of the Week.  Wesleyan is one of three teams tied for first place in the SLIAC standings with a 4-1 conference record. The Tigers are 8-4 overall and have won four straight.  The all-time series between Wesleyan and Webster is 4-3 with the Tigers having the edge in the already spirited rivalry.

The Gorloks are now 2-2 in the SLIAC and 5-6 overall.  Webster came into the game having won five of their previous six games.  Webster is back home on January 7 as it hosts Spalding University.  Webster will make up a game that was postponed earlier this season with Eureka College at Grant Gym on January 9.