The Westminster men's basketball team slid into second place in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) after Wednesday's 67-61 win over Webster University. The Westminster Blue Jays hold a 5-2 conference record with a 5-7 record on the season.
The game started with three lead changes and five ties before sophomores Jimmy Villalobos and Nick Carlos each hit a three-pointer to take the 20-14 lead 10:39 in. The Blue Jays maintained the lead until the Webster Gorloks made two consecutive jump shots to grab the lead. The lead changed five more times until Villalobos hit a three with 1:11 on the clock to take the 31-29 lead and a jump shot to send the game into halftime with the 33-29 lead.
The Gorloks tied the game up 2:26 into the second half, but a three by sophomore Tanner Cochran took back the lead, 36-33. With 10:54 to play, Carlos made a jump shot to spark an 8-0 run to put the Blue Jays up by 10, 49-39. The Blue Jays maintained a 10-point lead until the Gorloks started a 6-0 run to bring the game within four with 1:31 left on the clock. Senior Matt Murphy stopped the run with a jumper and Villalobos made a free throw to put the Blue Jays up by seven with 34 seconds left. The Gorloks hit a three, but Villalobos ended the game with two good free throws to win 67-61.
The Blue Jays shot 51 percent from the field. Villalobos scored 20 and went 7-for-11 from the field including a perfect 3-for-3 from the three-point line. Murphy added 12 to the win after shooting 5-for-7. Cochran pulled down seven boards and Carlos dished in six assists.
The Blue Jays host MacMurray College on Saturday, January 16, at 3:00 p.m.