11/17/2024 Fulton, MO- The Westminster College men's basketball team hosted Central Christian College on Saturday night for their home opener inside Historic Gym. The Blue Jays came into the game looking to kick off the season on a high note under head coach Todd Creal. Despite a strong start and a gritty performance, Westminster ultimately fell to Central Christian in a hard-fought battle, 89-81. 

The game featured a tight first half that saw back-and-forth scoring. Westminster leaned on their starters, with Walker Gohring (G) and Jack Fessenden (G) leading the offensive charge. The Blue Jays carried a narrow 45-44 lead into halftime, fueled by efficient shooting and dominant rebounding from Gavin Hendrix (F), who finished the game with 12 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. 

The Blue Jays battled to stay in the game, with Fessenden knocking down three three-pointers and Gohring adding 18 points on the night. Westminster kept pace for much of the second half but struggled with shooting consistency, finishing at 38.7% from the field and just 50% from the free-throw line.  

Despite the loss, the Blue Jays displayed promising moments, particularly in rebounding, where they outrebounded Central Bible 48-46. Westminster also saw balanced contributions across the roster, with Luke Abeln (F) adding eight points and five rebounds off the bench. 

Westminster will be back in action on Tuesday, November 19, at home against Knox College at 7:00PM.