The Webster University men's basketball team defeated Robert Morris-Peoria, 89-65, on December 7 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Gorloks took control early as Enrique Tankins and Christian Crespo had big nights for Webster.

Crespo (FR, Royal Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) helped the Gorloks take an 11-7 lead, scoring seven points in the games first three minutes on 3-3 shooting.  Josh Johnson (SO, St. Louis, MO/Clayton) then reeled off seven straight points, including two three-pointers, as Webster opened up a 19-10 lead.  Crespo added another basket and a three-pointer to up his point total to 12 just midway into the half, as Webster led, 28-16.

Freshman Austin Nation (Oklahoma City, OK/Purcell) made his presence felt with a pair of three-pointers as Webster's lead bulged to 34-16.  The Gorloks had hit six of their 11 (54.5%) three-point attempts at that point.  Johnson would add another three-pointer and Michael Dunn (SR, Tallahassee, FL/Lawton Chiles) followed with a layup off a steal by Johnson to make it a 43-24 lead with 3:44 left in the half.  Webster led, 47-30, at the break.

Crespo finished the half with 18 points on 8-9 shooting, and Johnson had 13 points.  Tankins (SO, Wentzville, MO/Timberland) had team highs in rebounds and assists with seven of each.  As a team, the Gorloks shot 54.7% (20-37) from the field, including 46.7% (7-15) from the three-point line.

The Gorloks got off to a slow start in the second half as their lead had slipped to eight, at 55-47, at the 14:00 mark.  Five turnovers and poor shooting had plagued Webster in the early going.  After a Webster timeout, a Tankins three-pointer helped jumpstart the Gorloks.  Tankins followed with a pair of jumpers for seven straight points as Webster led, 62-49. 

From that point on, the Gorloks were in complete control.  Nigel Wilcox (FR, Alpharetta, GA/Centennial) gave the fans what they didn't pay for...but wanted, a resounding slam dunk on a steal and fast break with 4:19 remaining to make it 79-58.  The Webster bench emptied and it was fast paced up and down action, accented by another Wilcox dunk, off a blocked shot and rebound.  A layup by freshman Lance Hatten (Greenacres, FL/Berean Christian) in particular riled up the raucous crowd in attendance as the final was 89-65.

Tankins had a double double and just missed a rare triple double.  He had 13 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.  Crespo had a team-high 24 points on 11-13 shooting.  Johnson had 17 points and seven assists, and Nation had 13 points on 5-7 shooting.   

Robert Morris Peoria falls to 1-9 on the year.  Webster evens it's record at 4-4 with the non-conference win.

The Gorloks get back into action in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference when they host Fontbonne University on December 9 in the renewal of 'The Battle of Big Bend'.