The Webster University men's basketball team usually adjusts fine to the run and gun game utilized by Greenville University, but not on this occasion as the Panthers spanked the Gorloks, 129-105, on January 17 at Grant Gym.  Webster found itself in an insurmountable 74-38 halftime hole as the Gorloks committed a season-high 22 turnovers in the first half alone.  Nigel Wilcox and Davian Joseph had yeomen efforts in the contest with Wilcox and Joseph landing in the Webster record books along with several team totals as well.

The Gorloks hung with the Panthers early in the first half as the score was 12-12 at 15:45.  A Greenville 11-0 run made it 23-12 at 13:16.  A Wilcox (FR, Alpharetta, GA/Centennial) dunk at 11:27 made it a 27-20 Panther lead.  Wilcox added another dunk at 7:52 in the middle of a Greenville 13-2 run that increased its lead to 45-29.  Wilcox gave the crowd some excitement with another dunk at 5:32, but Webster trailed 48-31.  The Gorloks had a huge 31-16 edge in rebounds at this juncture but a whopping 17 turnovers.  Greenville had a 22-4 run to close the half as it led 74-38.  

Wilcox was the one shining light for Webster, finishing the first half with a double double at 17 points and 12 rebounds.  Wilcox shot 8-12 (67%) for the half, including three resounding dunks.  Wilcox also added two blocked shots in the half as teammate Davian Joseph (SR, Philadelphia, PA/Lewis & Clark CC) had 10 rebounds and four blocks of his own.

A Wilcox dunk at 18:50 in the second made it 77-46, but Greenville quickly had a buzzkill with a three-pointer to make it 80-46.  Wilcox had another dunk at 15:45, as Webster trailed, 89-56.  Greenville surpassed the 100-point mark at 12:32 as it led, 101-63.  A pair of free throws by Josh Johnson (SO, St. Louis, MO/Clayton) and another Wilcox dunk cut the deficit to 25, 105-80, at 9:06.  But once again the spoilsport Panthers responded with another three-pointer to make it 108-80.  A basket by Joseph made it a 110-87 game at 6:55.  A Joseph dunk at 3:03 sent Webster over the century mark and a Wilcox basket made it, 122-103 at 2:44 as Greenville went on for the win.

The 105 points by Webster was the seventh highest single game total in team history.  The Gorloks' eye-popping 68 rebounds blew away the team record of 59 against MacMurray College in 2005.  The Gorloks' 41 field goals were the fourth highest total in a single contest.  The Gorloks finished at 49.4% (41-83) on the night.  The 83 shot attempts was the fourth highest in team history.  Webster wound up with a 68-42 edge on the boards but also committed 35 turnovers in the game to Greenville's 16.

Wilcox wound up with personal and season team-highs with 33 points and 20 rebounds.  The 20 rebounds was the third highest total in a game in team history, behind Steve Pierson's 26 in 1986.  His 33 points was the 13th highest in team history.  Wilcox was 16-22 from the field on the night and finished with five dunks.  Wilcox' 32 blocks on the season moves him into a tie for eight place on Webster's single season list.

Joseph finished with 23 points, on 10-13 shooting, and 19 rebounds.  The 19 rebounds was the fourh highest single game total in team history.  Johnson finished with 20 points and five assists, and Blake Ferrell (SO, Ballwin, MO/Parkway South) hit double figures with 12 points.  Enrique Tankins had a team-high 10 assists on the night.

Greenville College adopted a run and gun offense three years ago and Webster had adapted quite nicely, averaging 122.5 points per game while winning three of four meetings.  Webster has now averaged 119 points in five games vs. the run and gun Panthers, winning three of five.  The Gorloks' top three scoring games of all-time have come in those wins over Greenville.  Webster had a 15-game win streak vs. Greenville snapped last January with a loss to Greenville and now have lost two straight.

Webster is 5-4 in the SLIAC and 8-8 overall.  Greenville is now 6-2 in the SLIAC and 9-6 overall.   Webster came into the contest averaging 72.9 points per game and saw that average jump to 74.9.  Greenville has been averaging over 125 points per game this season while giving up 124.5 points per contest.

The Gorloks continue their home stand when they host Westminster College on January 20 at Grant Gym.