Category Archive: Men’s Basketball

The last five minutes of this game were about as dramatic and exciting as a sports fan can hope for.

The last five seconds were about as gut wrenching and painful as a Gorlok fan will witness.

Despite a brilliant comeback by the Webster University Men’s Basketball team, the Gorloks fell just short in the waning moments of the game as Dietrick Sooter drove to the rim with just a few seconds left on the clock. The Gorloks were down by two and it looked like Sooter’s layup would send the thrilling game into overtime. That is until Sooter decided to try and pass the ball to one of his unsuspecting teammates sitting under the hoop, and the ball was instead sent into the hands of an Austin College Kangaroo who was quickly fouled and drained both free throws to ice the game.

Ahmed Smith had a season high 15 points in the game against Austin College, including a clutch three-pointer during the furious Gorlok comeback that would end up falling just short. Smith has put up solid numbers when he's been called into action and has proved himself to be a very valuable bench player on a deep Gorlok squad.

It was an inspired effort and comeback for the Gorloks who now sit at 1-8. They trailed by nine at the half and by as many as 13 with 2:59 left on the clock. Somehow they found a way to make it close as they went on a 17-5 run over the next 2:45, but in the end it just wasn’t enough.

Despite the thrilling finish, the Gorloks most likely would not have found themselves in this situation had they played better and cleaner basketball over the first 35 minutes of the game. The Gorlok men committed 21 turnovers to go along with 16 personal fouls. Their defense could not stop the shooting and drives of a speedy Austin College team as the Kangaroos shot 50% from the field. The Gorloks also did not help their cause when given the opportunity late as they went 7-15 from the line in the second half. They are currently shooting 63% on free throws this season, a stat which must improve.

There were some strong individual performances as the electric Roman Robinson put up 21 points, six boards, and added three steals. Recent SLIAC Player of the Week Stefan Whittingham posted 13 points, eight rebounds, and blocked three shots. Ahmed Smith, proving himself more and more each game as a strong sixth man, scored 15, including a game high three from behind the arc.

Despite these strong performances, in the end it’s the players who did not have their normal strong nights who jump out on the stat sheet. Cody Bradfisch was one of nine from the field while committing four turnovers. Point Guard Hollis Edwards did not score a point nor contribute an assist. Center Jarrod Huskey did not even attempt a shot in the game.

This was a very winnable game for the Gorloks. The game was within reach throughout. Despite their sloppiness and uncharacteristic performances by the usual stars, they were one shot away from sending the game into overtime, and that shot was never taken.

Unfortunately for the Gorloks, they’ll have to think about this one for a while as they do not play another game until January 4th against SLIAC rival Blackburn College. The Gorloks now enter a prolonged stretch of conference play, which bodes well for them as they are currently undefeated in the SLIAC (albeit 1-0) and all of their losses have come at the hands of unfamiliar non-conference opponents. This would be the proper time for the Gorloks to get back to their winning ways if they want to repeat as SLIAC Champions in 2011-2012.

Even though they won the SLIAC last year and defeated Westminster College in the Championship Game, the Webster University Men’s Basketball Gorloks were not expected to challenge for the top spot in the SLIAC this season as four of last year’s five starters were no longer with the team. That perception got turned on its head Wednesday night in the Grant Gymnasium as the Gorloks upset the preseason favorite, Westminster College, in dominating fashion, picking up a 73-52 victory for their first win of the season in a game that never seemed in doubt for the Gorloks.

Roman Robinson hustles down the court in transition. Robinson was a force in Webster's win over Westminster as he posted a double-double and seemed to always be wherever the ball was throughout the course of the game. (Photo Courtesy of Max Bouvatte)

The Gorloks won the opening tip and quickly took the lead, led by transfer student Roman Robinson, who scored the first six Gorlok points and would go on the score 13 total, in addition to 11 rebounds. The Gorloks appeared to feed off of the mad-man like personality of Robinson on the court throughout the game. Robinson has shown he can be a dynamic player, if he stays out of foul trouble due to his style of play. It bodes well then for Robinson and the Gorloks that he was able to put up a double-double while only committing one foul on the game.

Webster played out of their minds on both sides of the ball. They shot an absurd 52.6% from the field and had four players score in double figures. They also managed to out-rebound and out-hustle the Blue Jays throughout. They took a 42-22 lead into halftime and kept the Blue Jays about that far off from the lead for the rest of the contest. The second half was led by the strong play of sophomore Stefan Whittingham, who also had a double-double, scoring 17 points from all over the floor and pulling down 12 rebounds. With every game, it appears like there is a superstar in the making for this Gorloks squad as Whittingham’s strong play continues.

Jarrod Huskey, the only returning starter from last year’s Championship team, almost had a double-double of his own (11 points, eight rebounds), and played tenaciously throughout the game until he went down with a head injury he suffered while drawing a charging foul from a Westminster player with five minutes remaining in the game. Huskey appeared to be alright on the bench, but he did not reappear in the game, and his health status will be something to keep an eye on going forward.

The Gorloks have their next game quickly approaching as they travel to Illinois Wesleyan for a contest on Saturday, They will most assuredly head into this game with a newfound sense of confidence. They’ve gotten the first win out of the way, and because of the fashion that it came in, there’s good reason for fans to expect that there will be a lot more of them coming this season.