The Webster University men’s basketball team lost an important conference match in overtime, 73-71, to MacMurray College at home on January 30. The Gorloks, needing a win to hold onto second, fell into a third-place tie in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with the loss.
The Gorloks had several critical fouls in the overtime session. A charging call against
Nick Jones (JR, Heritage HS, IL), that the Webster coaching staff protested, proved the most damaging. The Highlanders went to the free throw line 14 times in the overtime, converting 10 of them, and secured the win.
The Gorloks entered halftime with a 26-24 lead, but struggled most of the second half and trailed by as many as six. Webster seemed to come to life with two steals, and a blocked layup, by
Drew Moore (JR, Northwest HS, STL). The Gorloks tied the game at 59-59 on a pair of free throws by Jones at 1:51. After another block by Moore, at 1:36, Webster controlled the ball the remainder of regulation but could not score. The Gorloks missed their final four shots, sending the game into OT tied, 59-59.
Moore led Webster with 17 points, four blocked shots, and six steals. Senior
John Ortwerth (DeSmet Jesuit HS, STL) had 11 points and seven rebounds before fouling out. For the second straight game,
Robby Meeh (JR, Lindbergh HS, STL) had a big game off the bench, scoring 10 points and pulling down six rebounds. Meeh also made the play of the game, a headfirst diving save of a loose ball late in the second half, sending him crashing into the bleachers.
With the win, MacMurray pulls a game ahead of the Gorloks and holds the tie-breaker between the two, with two head-to-head wins. The Gorloks jump right back into the SLIAC fray, taking on Greenville College at home on February 3, and then heading to Eureka on February 6. The Red Devils are currently tied with the Gorloks for third in the SLIAC.