The Webster University men's basketball team lost its season opener, 83-68, to Tufts University, on November 17 in Clayton, MO.  The Jumbos, ranked sixth in the d3Hoops pre-season poll, pulled away from the young Gorloks in the second half of their first round match-up in the Lopata Classic at Washington University.

The Jumbos built a 17-12 lead in the first half, when a Christian Crespo (FR, Royal Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) jumper at 10:44 finished off a 6-0 run to give Webster an 18-17 lead.  Tufts hit a three-pointer to pull back out in front and would lead at the half, 44-34.  The Gorloks shot 44% for the half, and hit 4-7 (57%) of three-pointers, but the Jumbos sank seven of 16 from beyond the arc and hit seven free throws to Webster's two.  The Gorloks did grab 18 rebounds in the half.

Crepo had nine points, on 3-5 shooting, hitting both of his three-point attempts.  Josh Johnson (SO, St. Louis, MO/Clayton) had six points and four rebounds, and Parker Van Nest (SR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) had six points on 3-3 shooting for the half.

Enrique Tankins picked up a quick five points on back to back possessions early in the second half, hitting a jumper and a three, but the Gorloks still trailed, 50-42.  Down, 58-48, at the 10:40 mark, Tufts went of a 7-0 run over the next minute and a half to take a comfortable 65-48 advantage and coasted to the win.

Crespo, Tankins, and freshman Nigel Wilcox (Alpharetta, GA/Centennial)all wound up with nine points for the Gorloks.  The 6'5" Wilcox and Johnson tied for the team-lead with eight rebounds each.  Webster wound up shooting 43.8% from the field, and actually shot better from long range, shooting 53.3% (8-15) from the three-point line.  Tufts only outrebounded Webster, 42-40, and shot 42.9% for the game.  But the Jumbos sank nine more free throws (13-4) as they made 16 trips to the line to the Gorloks' nine.

The Webster squad features 12 new players, 11 of them freshmen, with five returners from varsity...three of whom played just 53 minutes total for the 2016-17 season.  The Gorloks were 14-12 in 2016-17, but lost their top eight scorers.

Tufts, 22-7 in 2016-17, are members of the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

The Gorloks will face Wabash College (IN) in the consolation final on November 18 at 5:00 p.m. back at Washington University.