11/22/2024 St. Louis, MO- The Westminster men's basketball team faced a tough matchup on Friday night, falling 82-63 to undefeated Illinois Wesleyan at Grant Gymnasium. Despite a strong showing from guard Walker Gohring and forward Kolton Garner, the Blue Jays were unable to overcome Illinois Wesleyan's efficient offense and strong defensive play. 

Westminster stayed competitive in the first half, trailing 40-31 at the break. Gohring led the way with 20 points, shooting 6-15 from the field and a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. Garner added 18 points, connecting on four three-pointers, while also pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. The Blue Jays struggled, however, to find consistent scoring from the rest of the roster, as they shot 39.2% from the field. 

The second half saw the Titans extend their lead, outscoring Westminster 42-32. Illinois Wesleyan controlled the glass, outrebounding Westminster 38-35, and capitalized on turnovers, forcing the Blue Jays into 22 turnovers. Westminster's free-throw shooting (87.5%) was a bright spot, but Illinois Wesleyan's defensive pressure and depth proved too much for the Blue Jays to handle. 

The loss drops Westminster to 0-4 on the season. They continue in the 2024 Webster Classic on Saturday, November 23rd, against Centre College, again at Grant Gymnasium in Webster Groves. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.