Blue Jays Slide Into Second in SLIAC With Win Over Webster

Blue Jays Slide Into Second in SLIAC With Win Over Webster

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.