1/18/2026 Fulton, MO - The Westminster men's basketball team made a strong second-half push but came up short in an 80–74 loss to Blackburn on Saturday afternoon. 

Blackburn jumped out to a fast start, scoring 52 points in the first half to take a 52–33 lead into the break. Westminster responded with a much improved defensive effort and offensive rhythm in the second half, outscoring the Beavers 41–28, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. 

Walker Gohring led all scorers for the Blue Jays with 21 points, knocking down three three-pointers and shooting 8-of-19 from the field. Kolton Garner added 18 points and was a major spark from beyond the arc, connecting on 5-of-9 shots from deep. Sean LaRose provided an efficient performance off the bench, scoring 12 points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Gavin Hendrix and Carlitos Sanchez each contributed six points, with Hendrix also grabbing five rebounds. Jamile Johnson added seven points and four rebounds, while Kobe Jones chipped in four points and an assist. 

Westminster now sits at 6–11 overall and 2–5 in SLIAC play. The Blue Jays will look to carry their second-half momentum into their next matchup when they host Lyon on Thursday, Jan. 22.