WEBSTER GROVES - Webster University hit a season high 27 free throws, including connecting on 20-of-26 free throws in the second half to hold off a pesky University of the Ozarks (Ark.) team en route to posting a 71-61 win over the Eagles in the 10th-Annual Webster Classic held at Grant Gymnasium on the Webster campus. 

The victory improved Webster's record to 4-1 on the season and extended its win streak to two consecutive games, while Ozarks fell to 1-2 on the season. In addition, the win also improved the Gorloks to 11-8 all-time in the Webster Classic. 

Webster's 27 made throws were tied for 15th all-time on the school's single game chart, while the 36 attempts is tied for 13th on the school's single game chart. The 27 made free throws were the most for Webster since hitting 29 free throws in 2016 against Greenville. 

Junior guard Josh Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton) paced the Gorloks at the free throw as he finished 15-for-17 at the line, including going 12-for-14 from the line in the second half. Johnson finished with a game-high 19 points and added seven rebounds. The 15 free throws are tied for fifth most on the school's single game chart, while the 17 attempts is tied for fourth most in a game in school history. 

For the game, Webster made 15 more free throws and shot 18 more free throws than Ozarks in the contest as Webster was 27-for-36 and the Eagles went 12-for-18. The two teams combined for 36 free throws in the second half. 

The free throws were necessary for the Gorloks as they failed to convert on a three-point shot in the game as they finished 0-for-11 from long distance. It marked the first time since the 2016-17 season that Webster failed to hit a 3-pointer in the game. The 0-for-11 effort from downtown snapped a 38 game streak of hitting at least one trey in a game as the prior to Friday, the last time Webster failed to hit a trey in a came at Greenville on Jan. 21, 2017. In that game, WU went 0-for-2 from the 3-point line. 

In fact, for the game, the two teams combined to shoot 1-for-32 from downtown as along with WU's 0-for-11 effort, UO went 1-for-21 from beyond the arc.

Johnson was one of five Gorloks to score in double figures on the night as sophomore forward Nigel Wilcox (Alpharetta, Ga./Centennial) added 18 points, including a 6-for-6 effort at the line and also pulled down five boards. Wilcox, though, failed to block a shot for the first time this season and just the seventh time in his Webster career. Wilcox is fifth on the school's all-time blocked shot list with 63. 

Junior forward Enrique Tankins (Wentzville, Mo./Timberland) recorded his second straight double-double as he had 11 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore Rodson Etienne (West Palm Beach, Fla./Royal Palm Beach) and junior guard Aron Hopp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln College) each had 10 points and combined for eight rebounds. For Hopp, the 10 points were a new career high, while the four boards tied a career high. 

After shooting 43 percent from the field and hitting 7-of-10 free throws in the opening half to take a 31-24 lead at the half, Webster opened the second half on a 10-3 run to take a 41-27 lead following a lay-up by Etienne with 16:41 left in the game. 

The Eagles, though, answered with a 12-6 run over the next six-plus minutes to drop WU's lead to 47-39. WU used a dunk by Etienne and a lay-up by Hopp on its next two offensive possessions to extend its lead to 51-39 with 8:34 left in the game. 

UO wouldn't go away without a fight as they answered with a 12-6 run to pull within 58-51 following a lay-up by Lance Gardner with 3:43 remaining. Johnson and Wilcox would then hit two free throws each to push WU's lead to 62-51 with 3:41 left. 

The Eagles made one more push as they used an 8-3 run over the next two minutes to drop Webster's lead to 65-59 with 1:09 left. Wilcox stopped UO's run on a dunk with 41 seconds left and Johnson would then hit 4-of-6 free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal Webster's win over the Eagles, who are a member of the American Southwest Conference.

Bryson Johnson paced the Eagles with 12 points, while Gardner added eight points and seven rebounds off the bench. 

Webster held a 41-34 edge on the glass, but UO posted a 14-2 advantage in second chance points thanks to 13 offensive boards. WU had 10 offensive boards in the win. 

For the game, WU shot 46 percent from the field and 75 percent from the line, while UO shot 35 percent from the field and 67 percent at the line. In the opening half, WU held the Eagles to 28 percent shooting from the field and 8 percent (1-for-12) from the 3-point line. 

UO won the turnover battle as they had just eight in the game, while Webster committed 17 turnovers.

The Gorloks will conclude play in its Webster Classic on Saturday, Nov. 24 with a 3 p.m. game against 19th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan (5-0). Illinois Wesleyan opened Friday's Webster Classic with a 95-64 win over Westminster (Mo.) College. Westminster (0-4) will open play Saturday at 1 p.m. against the University of the Ozarks.