Alpha Diallo
Jacob Hawkins
68
Fontbonne Font 8-18,7-11 SLIAC
73
Winner Webster WEBSTR 14-12,12-6 SLIAC
Fontbonne Font
8-18,7-11 SLIAC
68
Final
73
Webster WEBSTR
14-12,12-6 SLIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Fontbonne Font 28 40 68
Webster WEBSTR 28 45 73

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Kyle Jones

Diallo’s New Career High 21 Points Helps Advance Gorloks to SLIAC Semifinals Game

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University men's basketball team opened postseason play and hosted Fontbonne University Wednesday evening for the 2025 SLIAC Men's Basketball Tournament. The Gorloks outdueled the Griffins led by a new career-high 21 points by Alpha Diallo that led to final score of 73-68. With the victory, the Gorloks advance to the SLIAC semifinals game and improve to 14-12 overall. 

In the opening minutes of play, Webster and Fontbonne exchanged baskets to a 6-5 Gorlok advantage that included layups by Diallo, Josh Luster, and Jemard Sykes II. Moments later, the Griffins responded with a 10-3 run that generated the 15-9 deficit. 

With just under 13 minutes to go in the half, the Gorloks erupted for a 13-0 run that started on back-to-back jumpers by Sykes II and Gabe Mccrary. Moments later, Sebastian Reed cashed in on a basket in the paint that tied the game at 15 apiece. Following a free-throw by Reed, the Gorloks stretched their lead to seven at 22-15 on layups by Sykes II, Justin Ugo, and Luster. Following that Gorlok run, the Griffins countered right back with an 11-0 run that generated the deficit of 26-22. Webster closed out the first half with a 5-0 run on a three-point basket by Diallo and a mid-range jumper by Will Burroughs that tied the game at 28 apiece.

The Gorloks opened the second half scoring with a conventional add-one play by Sykes II that took the 31-28 advantage. Immediately following the play, the Griffins continued the game of runs with a 7-0 run that generated the 35-31 deficit. Moments later, the Gorloks matched that Griffins 7-0 run and took the 38-35 advantage. In the run, Ugo and Karl Moore Jr added two points when Diallo capped it off with a three-point basket.

For the next four minutes of play, Webster and Fontbonne traded baskets that tied the game at 44 apiece. At the 11:31 mark, Ugo started a 15-5 run with points at the line. Less than 30 seconds later, Jonah Hibbert knocked down a three-point basket when Luster followed up with a layup. Following consecutive layups by Hibbert and Moore Jr, Diallo capped off the run with four straight points that increased the lead to double-digits at 60-48. 

With under five minutes to go in regulation, the Gorloks and Griffins swapped baskets that pushed the score to 67-55.  At the 2:08 mark, Fontbonne responded with a 10-0 run that cut the lead down to two at 67-65. With 17 seconds left in the game, Diallo hit a huge three-point basket that increased the lead to 70-65. In the final seconds, Ugo and Reed closed out the game at the free-throw line that sealed the victory. 

In addition to Diallo's 21 points that included shooting five-of-seven from behind the arc, Reed secured his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds which tied his career-high. Sykes collected 11 rebounds. WU's Sykes II and Ugo contributed nine points each while Luster and Moore Jr added six apiece. 

As a team, the Gorloks dominated the glass and collected a season-high 62 rebounds led by Sykes II and Reed with 11 apiece as Ugo secured 10. 

The Gorloks will continue postseason play at Greenville University on Friday, February 28 taking on Spalding University at 5:30PM in Greenville, Illinois. 
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