The Spalding University men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker at Webster University, 58-57 Thursday night, marking SU's first loss in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) competition. The loss drops SU to 10-6 overall and 8-1 in SLIAC play.

SU got off to a slow start, falling behind 20-9 when Webster's Jarrod Husky hit a jump-shot giving the Gorloks an 11 point lead.

Junior guard Brandon Gabriel knocked down a three-pointer on Spalding's next possession, starting a 12-0 Golden Eagle run to take a 21-20 lead with 4:29 left in the first half.

The game remained closed the rest of the half resulting in seven ties or lead changes over the last four minutes. Trailing 28-29, Brandon Goeing connected from beyond the arc and Thomas Blakemore knocked down a jumper to give SU a 33-29 advantage at the half.

SU got out to a fast start in the second half, outscoring the Gorloks 10-4 in the first five minutes to take a 43-33 lead on a Terez Smith jump-shot at the 14:30 mark.

Webster responded with eight unanswered points cutting SU's lead to two at 43-41, but another Golden Eagle run pushed Spalding's lead back to 10 when Gabriel hit a three-pointer to make the score 57-47 with 4:46 to play.

It looked as if the Golden Eagles had the game in hand still leading 57-47 with 3:05 to play, but a Taylor King turnover led to a Kevin Miller jumper on the other end and Webster scored 11 unanswered points to edge Spalding 58-57 on a pair of Hollis Edwards free throws with four seconds remaining.

The Golden Eagles went 0-for-6 to end the game while committing three turnovers and three fouls.

One glaring stat was Spalding's inability to get to the free throw line. SU went 5-of-5 at the line in the first half, but did not shoot a free throw in the second half, while Webster went 5-of-7 in the first half and 7-of-10 in the second.

Three Golden Eagles finished in double-digit scoring. Blakemore had a team-high 15 points, while Brandon Goeing added 13 points and Brandon Gabriel scored 12 points.

Kevin Miller anchored the Gorloks with 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Aaron Griffen added 10 points.

Splading will be back in action Saturday January 25 went they play at Blackburn College. Tipoff is at 4:00 p.m., ET.