SLIAC Game of the Week: Webster at Fontbonne
Posted: Feb 02, 2016

SLIAC Game of the Week: Webster at Fontbonne

At a Glance
This week's SLIAC Game of the Week features the men's basketball game game between Fontbonne University and Webster University in what is known as the "Battle of Big Bend". The two schools, located just five miles apart, will face each other for the second time this season and are among the teams battling for postseason position. The game is set for Saturday, February 6th at 3 p.m. in St. Louis, Mo. on the campus of Fontbonne University. You can watch the SLIAC Game of the Week on video HERE or on live stats HERE

 

About Fontbonne

Fontbonne begins this week with an 8-11 overall record and a 6-6 mark in the SLIAC. They are currently in a three-way tie for sixth place in the standings, but just two games out of first-place. The Griffins are coming off a 78-60 loss to Spalding and will face Westminster on the road on Wednedsay before returning home for a pair of games including Saturday's contest against Webster.

Fontbonne averages 75.3 points per game this season, ranking 7th in the league, and are one of the SLIAC's top rebounding teams. Their defense is also among the best, limiting opponents to a 42.9 percent field goal percentage.

The Griffins start the week shorthanded, as junior forward and leading scorer Ben Kissing (15.1 ppg) and senior guard Richard Dorhauer (11.0 ppg) have each missed time recently due to injuries. If those two are unable to suit up this weekend the Griffins will turn to sophomore guard Kody Ettinger and senior forward Jared Greenlee, the 2013 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year. Ettinger is averaging 11.1 points per game, leading the team with 36 three point field goals. Greenlee is averaging 9.1 points and a team high 6.3 rebounds per game this season.

About Webster
Webster opens the week with a 10-9 overall record and a 7-5 SLIAC record. They are currently in a three-way tie for third place in the SLIAC standings and have won three straight, including an 84-67 win over Eureka last weekend. They will host Blackburn on Wednesday night before heading down the road to face Fontbonne.

Webster is averaging 77.4 points per game this season, sixth in the SLIAC. The Gorloks protect the ball; committing just 13.2 turnovers per game, the lowest in the league while ranking second in the SLIAC in steals at 9.2 per game. Their defense allows the second fewest points per game in the league at 75.3 per contest.

Junior forward Hunter Ward is the unquestioned go-to player for the Gorloks. Ward is averaging 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game; leading the team in all four categories. C.J. Moore, a junior forward, is second on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game and is dangerous in the paint where he shoots 51-percent from the floor. The Gorloks do not rely on the three-point shot much but when they do it comes from either Ward's or junior guard Xavier Dortch's hands. Ward has knocked 23 three's while Dortch is second with 20.

Game Notes

  • Webster leads Fontbonne in the all-time series 31-24, although Fontbonne has won the last two meetings including a 68-61 win earlier this season.
  • Fontbonne is 7-3 at home this season and just 1-6 on the road. Their only road win this year was against Webster on Jan. 4.
  • Interestingly of Webster's seven conference wins, six have come against the same teams. Webster has already swept Eureka, Greenville, and Principia this year. They have also defeated MacMurray, with that re-match coming on Feb. 10.
  • Fontbonne held Webster's Hunter Ward to just seven points in their first meeting, his second lowest scoring output this season and one of just four times this season he failed to reach double figures.
  • Webster is looking to reach their 18th consecutive SLIAC Tournament, a conference record. In fact the only year the Gorloks failed to make the conference tournament was in 1995.