Elsah, IL 1/11/2024- The Westminster College men's basketball team took on the Principia College Panthers on Thursday night in Elsah, Illinois. The Blue Jays would hang around and rally late, but the Panthers came away on top 78-72. Principia improves to 3-11 on the season and 2-5 in the SLIAC. The Blue Jays fell to 1-13 on the year and 1-6 in the SLIAC.
The Panthers would make a three-pointer to take a 13-8 lead in the opening five minutes of the game. The Blue Jays would string together back-to-back threes of their own to tie the game 16-16 midway through the first half. Westminster would get their first lead of the game after a layup from Brysan Jeffries made it 23-22. Principia then went on a 13-4 run to regain the lead and go up 35-27. The Blue Jays responded with a run of their own to make a two-point game again, 38-36 with 1:30 left before halftime. The Panthers would make a three just before halftime and headed to the locker room with a 41-36 lead.
Principia would maintain their lead for most of the 2nd half and seemed to be coasting to a win. The Blue Jays would start to rally after Brennan Jeffries scored 5 unanswered points to make it 68-62 and got the Jays within 6. Walker Gohring would hit a mid-range jumper to cut the Panther lead to three points at 70-67 with 3:15 left. Ben Eberlin grabbed an offensive rebound, put it back, and got fouled on the play, making it a two-point game. With 47 seconds left, down 74-72, the Blue Jays needed a stop to have a chance to tie or take the lead in the last seconds. The Panthers would make a tough shot, with 24 seconds remaining to go up 76-72 in the final seconds. Gohring would fire up a three to make it a one-point game with 15 seconds left but couldn't get it to fall. The Blue Jays would foul to extend the game. The Panthers would make their free throws and walk away with a 78-72 victory.
Walker Gohring had 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal to lead the Blue Jays. Ben Eberlin had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal. He would go 7-9 from the field and 3-3 from the free-throw line. Brennan Jeffries had 12 points and 4 rebounds as the third Blue Jay to score in double figures.
Westminster will be back in action on Saturday, January 13th to take on Eureka College at 3:00 pm back in Fulton.
