The Webster University men's basketball team lost at Eureka College, 81-70, on December 16 in Eureka, IL. The Gorloks could not keep pace with the Red Devils scoring machine that averages over 96 points per game.
If it is experience that really counts, the Gorloks were at a distinct disadvantage as they started a lineup with two freshmen, two sophomores, and a senior, as opposed to the Red Devils' three juniors, senior, and sophomore.
Webster held a 12-10 lead five minutes into the contest on a Christian Crespo (FR, Royal Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) three-pointer, but Eureka reeled off six straight points to pull in front. The Gorloks trailed by two, 21-19, at 10:18, but the Red Devils expanded the lead to seven, 28-21, at 8:21. The Red Devils' shooting from the field, 17-35, including 8-14 (57.1%) from beyond the arc kept the Gorloks on their heels. Eureka took a 44-32 lead into the locker room at the half.
Webster was unable to contain Eureka's Shea Feehan, leading the SLIAC in scoring at a lofty 34.4 points per game, who had 20 points in the first half. Feehan is threatening to top Webster's Jeff Reis' SLIAC season record of 27.9 ppg set in 2000-01. Crespo led Webster with nine points in the half.
A basket and one by Enrique Tankins (SO, Wentzville, MO/Timberland) at 19:04 in the second half cut the deficit to nine at 46-37, but the Red Devils slowly built a 20 point lead. The closest the Gorloks would come the rest of the way was the final score, as the Red Devils shooting, especially from the three-point line, thwarted any Webster comeback.
Eureka finished 30-65 (46.2%) from the field, and 14-29 (48.3%) from the three-point line. Webster managed to get off 74 shots, but connected on just 29 (39.2%) and were 5-19 beyond the arc. Webster out-rebounded Eureka, 46-38, and outscored them in the paint, 40-26, but it wasn't enough to offset the Red Devil shooting.
Tankins led Webster with 15 points, on 6-11 shooting, and tied for the team-lead with eight rebounds. Crespo had 14 points and Michael Dunn (SR, Tallahassee, FL/Lawton Chiles) finished with 10 on 5-8 shooting. Nigel Wilcox (FR, Alpharetta, GA/Centennial) had eight points and eight rebounds.
Webster is now 2-2 in the SLIAC and 5-5 overall. Eureka improves to 3-1 and 7-2 overall.
The Gorloks have 13 days off before they take a holiday break trip to Nashville, TN, to face Berry College (GA) on December 29. Webster returns home on January 3 with a game vs. Iowa Wesleyan University.
