Ward Reaches Milestone in Webster Loss

Hunter Ward became the 11th player in Gorlok men's basketball history to top the 1000 point mark as Webster lost to the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, 79-56, in the Cavallo Classic on November 25 at Grant Gymnasium.  The Eagles had a run to end the first half on top, then took control in the second half as they pulled away from the Gorloks.

Hunter Ward

Ward (SR, St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood) entered the contest with 991 points and finished the night at 1004, scoring 13 in the game.  Ward becomes just the 11th player in Webster men's basketball history to top the 1000 point mark, and the first since Ahmad Smith (2011-14) surpassed that level in 2013.

A pair of layups by Evan Milligan (SO, Evansville, IN/Evansville Central) helped Webster open up a 7-2 lead early in the contest, but the Eagles clawed back to take an 11-9 lead with 13:30 left in the half.  But a jumper by Jahmad Wilburn (SO, Deerfield, FL/Deerfield Beach) and a layup by Adam Etter (SR, Albers, IL/Mater Dei) gave Webster the lead back at 14-13. 

The Eagles swooped back on top at 7:30, 19-18, as the teams battled back and forth.  A Ward dunk, and Ward layup on the Gorloks' next possession, gave Webster a 24-21 lead at 4:40, bu the Eagles tied it at 26-26 with 3:00 left in the half.  The Eagles went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead, 32-26, to end the half.  Ward had eight points and five rebounds to lead Webster in both categories for the half.

Wisconsin-LaCrosse started off the second half with a 10-0 run to take a commanding, 42-26 lead.  Ward broke the 1000 mark with a layup at 16:22, then followed up with a three-pointer to cut the Eagles lead to 44-33 at 15:45.  Wisconsin-LaCrosse was still up by 16 before an Etter three-pointer and C J Moore (SR, Homestead, FL/Miami Killian) layup cut the deficit to 54-43 at 11:40.

But the Eagles once again had an answer, this time with three straight threes to take their largest lead of the game, 63-43, at 9:46.  That lead proved insurmountable, as Wisconsin-LaCrosse maintained its 20 point advantage most of the way out.  The Eagles poured in nine three-pointers in the second half.

Ward had teams highs with 13 points and eight rebounds for the Gorloks.  Moore had 12 points and a team-high six assists before going down with an injury late in the contest.  Xavier Dortch (SR, Stockton, AL/Faulkner St) also hit double figures with 10 points.

Webster falls to 0-4 on the season with the loss.  Webster will play Rust College (MS) on November 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the second round of the Cavallo Classic, while Wisconsin-LaCrosse will take on fellow SLIAC member, MacMurray College, at 1:00 p.m..  Rust defeated MacMurray in an exciting opener, 87-83, earlier in the evening.  The Webster women's basketball team will make it a triple-header on the 26th, taking on Augustana College at 5:00 p.m.

STORY COURTESY OF WEBSTER UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION