The Webster University men's basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Millikin University squad as it lost it's home opener, 79-66, on November 21 at Grant Gym.  The aptly named Big Blue were bigger and stronger than the Gorloks as well as they controlled the boards in the contest.

The young Gorloks, starting a lineup of two freshmen, two sophs, and a senior, grabbed a 3-0 lead when Josh Johnson (SO, St. Louis, MO/Clayton) swished a three-pointer on its first possession.  Webster maintained a slight lead throughout the half until a pair of baskets and three-pointers by Millikin turned a 19-15 Gorlok lead into a 25-23 advantage for the Big Blue at 4:49.  A drive through the lane and a lay up by Enrique Tankins (SO, Wentzville, MO/Timberland) at 3:50 put Webster back on top at 26-25.

A 5-0 run by the Big Blue to end the half sent the teams into the locker room with Millikin on top, 34-30.  Both teams shot 51% for the half, but Millikin had a 17-10 advantage in rebounds, and a 4-1 edge in three-pointers.

Millikin opened up a 38-30 lead to start the second half, but the Gorloks whittled it down to 51-48 when Austin Nation (FR, Oklahoma City, OK/) hit a three at 11:22.  The Big Blue quickly widened the margin back to eight, at 56-48.  Webster closed to within two at 56-54, but Millikin responded with another three, a pattern that was woven throughout the half.  The Big Blue extended it to 10, at 66-56, with 5:48 remaining and the Gorloks just could not break through as Millikin went on to win.

Rodson Etienne (FR, West Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) had a big game for Webster with 19 points on 9-11 shooting, while also pulling down a team-high six rebounds.  Johnson had 14 points and five assists, and Tankins had 12 points and four assists.

Millikin shot 57.9% from the field and  a sizzling 60% (9-15) from the three-point line.  The Big Blue finished with a big edge on the boards at 35-22.

Millikin is now 2-0.  Webster (1-1) had a  three game win streak over Millikin dating back to 2009 entering the contest.

The Gorloks will host the Webster Classic on November 24-25 at Grant.  Webster will face Coe College (IL) in first round action on Nov. 24 and will play either the winner or loser of the other pairing, Centre College (KY) vs. Carthage College (WI) on Nov. 25.