The Webster University men's basketball team got a much-needed road win at Principia College, 81-71, on January 23 in Elsah, IL. After consecutive losses in the SLIAC, the Gorloks improved to 6-5 in conference, staying in the hunt for a top four spot to ensure a place in the SLIAC Tournament.
Webster jumped out to a 12-2 lead, forcing a Principia timeout at 16:03 in the first half. Christian Crespo (FR, Royal Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach) and Michael Dunn (SR, Tallahassee, FL/Lawton Chiles) each pitched in four points to help the Gorloks build the early lead. A three-pointer by Crespo extended the Gorlok lead to 22-8 but a 9-0 Panther run cut it to 22-17 with 8:11 left in the half.
Back to back layups by Rodson Etienne (FR, West Palm Beach, FL/Royal Palm Beach), off a nice feed from Enrique Tankins (SO, Wentzville, MO/Timberland), and Davian Joseph (SR, Philadelphia, PA/Lewis & Clark CC) extended Webster's lead to eight, 28-20, at 5:40. The resilient Panthers answered with a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the night, 29-28 at 2:37. Crespo hit a 15-footer to put the Gorloks back on top and, after losing the lead again, a Dunn three-pointer before the buzzer gave Webster a 33-31 halftime lead.
Dunn had 10 points and four rebounds for the half, and Crespo had nine points with four rebounds. Webster outrebounded Principia, 22-15 on the half.
Principia took a 36-35 lead to open the second half. Baskets by Dunn and Tankins, and a three by Crespo put Webster back on top, 42-36, as the Panthers quickly called a timeout. A Nigel Wilcox (FR, Alpharetta, GA/Centennial) dunk and pair of free throws out of the timeout put Webster up, 48-36. The Panthers pulled to within four before a Crespo jumper gave Webster a 54-48 lead with 11:30 remaining. Webster's 12-point lead had disappeared, though, as Principia tied it up at 54-54, with 9:20 left on the clock.
After the Panthers had regained the lead, a three-pointer by Josh Johnson (SO, St. Louis, MO/Clayton) put Webster back on top, 58-56. Johnson hit a 6-footer to make it a four point lead at 6:55. A nifty dish by Wilcox gave Dunn an easy layup and an Austin Nation (FR, Oklahoma City, OK/Purcell) three-pointer made it 65-58 with 5:30 remaining as Principia called a timeout. Tankins pulled up for a jumper to extend the lead to nine. Principia pulled within seven twice, only for Wilcox to hit a pair of free throws twice to keep the lead at nine. Principia got within six but a pair of Tankins jumpers sealed the deal for Webster.
Webster shot 46.3% (31-67) on the night, hitting 50% (7-14) of its three-point attempts. After having a couple tough nights with turnovers, the Gorloks only committed nine in the contest as they forced 16 Panther turnovers and had 13 steals.
Wilcox had a team-highs with 20 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. He has averaged 20,7 points and 13.6 rebounds over the last three contests. Crespo had 16 points, on 7-13 shooting, and four rebounds, and Johnson finished with 15 points. Tankins had 11 points, seven rebounds, and a team-high six assists. Dunn hit double figures with 12 points and added five rebounds.
Webster entered the contest with a 30-game win streak vs. Principia, with the last lost to the Panthers in 2003. The Gorloks barely escaped that streak ending when they nipped the Panthers, 78-75, on December 2 at Grant Gym.
Webster is 6-5 in the SLIAC and 9-9 overall. The Gorloks remain tied for fifth in the SLIAC, one game out of the fourth. The top four teams in the conference play in the conference tournament, which determines what team from the SLIAC advances to the NCAA Championships. Principia falls to 6-5 in the SLIAC and are now tied for that fifth spot in the SLIAC with Webster.
Webster will renew the 'Battle of Big Bend' on January 27, when it travels to Fontbonne University. The Gorloks won at home against Fontbonne earlier this season.
