WEBSTER GROVES, MO – The Principia Men's Basketball team traveled to Webster University on Friday night to take on the Gorloks in their first SLIAC Semifinal since the 2016-17 season. After only their second win in SLIAC Tournament history on Wednesday, Principia was looking to extract some revenge against Webster for two losses during the regular season.
The game was hard-fought from the start. The Panthers and Gorloks were neck and neck the entire first half with Webster holding a 3 point lead at the break. The second half proved to be more of the same, as Principia and Webster were tied at 47 apiece with 8:30 remaining. The Gorloks would then go on a quick 10-0 run over the next two minutes and take control of the game in its vital stages to defeat the Panthers 75-60.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging the lead multiple times, and the largest lead of the half for either team was just 4 points. Principia took their biggest lead of the game of 3 points with 6:56 remaining in the half on a floater from
Jaquan Adams. Webster would come right back and go on a quick 7-0 run to take a 22-18 lead with 5:00 remaining. Principia would respond and take a 24-23 lead on a
Clark Davidson layup with 2:03 left in the half. Webster ended the half with the 27-24 lead after a quick 4 point run over the last 2 minutes.
A three-pointer from the Webster's Wynne Brown Jr. gave the Gorloks a 33-26 lead with 17:08 left in the game. Principia would respond with three pointers by
Shemarri Miles and
Kevin Wingert to get the lead right back down to 1 with 15:01 remaining. A hook shot from
Clark Davidson gave the Panthers the lead again at 45-44 with 10:46 remaining. After being tied at 47-47 with 8:26 left, Webster would go on a 10-0 run in the next two minutes. This stretch took over the game at a pivotal moment and Principia was unable to respond. Fouling at the end by Principia continued to extend the lead for the Gorloks, as Principia fell 75-60.
Good to Know: The Panthers were led by
Clark Davidson who had 17 points and 9 rebounds. Davidson was named to the SLIAC All-Tournament Team after averaging a double double in the Principia's two playoff games.
Jaquan Adams and
Shemarri Miles both finished with 12 points apiece, and
Kevin Wingert chipped in with 8 points off of the bench.
Up Next: This marks the end of a historic season for the Panthers. They finished 18-9 and set the record for most wins in program history. This also was the final game for our six seniors who have given so much to this program. Thank you to
Marco Powells,
Jake Kampf,
Kevin Wingert,
Payton Sellers,
Nathan Brantingham, and
Clark Davidson for everything you guys have done to uplift Principia basketball!
