Webster Groves, Mo.- In a dominant second-half performance, the DePauw men's basketball team overpowered Westminster College and beat the Blue Jays 73-63 in game one of the Webster Classic.
 
The Blue Jays jumped to an early 6-0 lead over the Tigers in the opening three minutes of play, and held its lead for most of the first half. With just over 11 minutes left in the first half the Tigers' Sam Jacobs finished a jumper in the paint to tie the game at 11 apiece. DePauw and Westminster traded baskets for the remainder of the half, resulting in three ties and four lead changes before halftime. 
 
Down 30-29 at the start of the second half, the Tigers stifled the Blue Jays' offense in the opening minutes, going on a 13-5 run to regain the lead. DePauw would dominate the second half, putting up five threes and shooting 50 percent from the field while holding its opponents to just 37.5 percent.
 
DePauw's bench played a crucial role in the Tigers' ability to overpower the Blue Jays throughout the game, outscoring Westminster 33-13. As time wound down, DePauw's patient ball movement and efficiency at the free-throw line allowed the Tigers to extend its lead to as much as 15, ultimately putting the game away with a final score of 73-63.
 
Elijah Hales led the Tigers with 17 points, while Ronald Johnson recorded 13 points after shooting 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from behind the arc. Jacobs added 11, with Grant Gohmann putting up nine points and 11 rebounds.
 
Pacing the Blue Jays' offense was Jaxon Althaus with 25 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Ben Eberlin with 12 points and five rebounds. 
 
The Tigers finished the evening shooting 42.4 percent from the floor, with the Blue Jays shooting 37.9 percent. DePauw held the edge from the line and on the boards, shooting 14-16 from the free-throw line and outrebounding Westminster 46-33.
 
The Tigers improve to 3-1 overall and face host Webster University on Saturday, November 19, at 4 p.m. EST.