The Webster men's basketball team avoided something that hadn't happened since 2003, with its 78-75 win over Principia College, on December 2 at Grant Gymnasium. The Gorloks entered the game with a 29-game win streak vs. Principia and left with the streak intact at 30.. Webster had turned a six-point deficit into a five point lead early in the second half, but a determined Principia squad battled back and led by as many as nine before a Gorloks late rally.
A steal by Enrique Tankins (SO, Wentzville, MO/Timberland) and a basket plus one by Tankins pulled Webster within one, 72-71, at 1:54 in the second half. Another steal by Tankins on the Panthers next possession led to a Christian Crespo three-pointer and a Webster, 74-72 lead, its first since the 13:21 mark. Tankins had a layup with 0:50 left to open up a four-point lead. A Principia missed basket was gobbled up by Rodson Etienne and the Panthers were called for a technical. Josh Johnson hit one to give Webster a 77-72 lead, and was fouled on the subsequent possession and hit one of two to make it a 78-72 lead. The Panthers hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 78-75 with 0:33 remaining. Principia would sink the potentially tying three-pointer...but the clock had just expired before the shot and Webster escaped with the win.
The Gorloks tooks a 5-0 lead to open the contest on a jumper by Michael Dunn (SR, Tallahassee,FL/Lawton Chiles) and a three-pointer by Johnson (SO, St. Louis, MO/Clayton). The Panthers scratched back and took a 16-15 lead at 12:34 and over the next five minutes the lead changed hands three times with the game being tied three times as well. Principia hit back to back baskets to take a 26-22 lead at 6:54, but Webster would tie the game once more on buckets by Etienne (FR, West Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) and Elijah Macias (FR, San Antonio, TX/Medina Valley).
The Panthers came back once again, taking a 34-28 lead with 3:09 left in the half, but a Crespo (FR, Royal Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) three-pointer cut the deficit in half at 2:50. Principia extended the lead to seven, at 38-31, at took a 40-33 lead into the locker room.
Principia shot 56.7% (17-30) for the half while Webster hit 40% of its shots (14-35) from the field. Crespo had 11 first half points for Webster and Etienne had seven points and seven rebounds. Tankins had 13 points, five assists, and a team-high four steals.
Webster was down, 42-36, at 18:04, when a 13-2 run pulled them into the lead at 49-44. The run was punctuated by a Johnson three-pointer and a dunk by Etienne at 14:11. The Panthers battled back yet again, taking a 56-49 lead at 11:50 on a basket plus one and a three-pointer. A layup by Parker Van Nest (SR, St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South) broke that string. Principia led by nine, 64-55, when a three-pointer by Crespo cut the deficit to six at 6:07, and a Johnson three cut it to four at 2:50 before the exciting conclusion.
Principia finished the contest shooting 52.7% to Webster's 41.9% but the Gorloks shot 36.8% from beyond the arc, hitting 7-19. Webster only committed six turnovers in the contest, compared to the Panthers' 15,
Crespo finished with a team and personal career high 24 points, handing out eight assists. Etienne had 11 points, a team-high 13 rebounds and eight assists. Johnson finished with 19 points. Tankins had 13 points, five assists, and four steals.
Webster leads the series between the two schoos, 53-3 Webster has won 30 straight dating back to 2003. Principia falls to 1-1 in the SLIAC and 1-4 overall. Webster is now 1-1 in the SLIAC and 3-4 overall.
The Gorloks will host Robert Morris College-Peoria on December 7, then jump back into play in the SLIAC as Fontbonne University visits Grant Gym on December 9.
