Drury's Basketball Panthers will strive to push their home-court winning streak to 28 games on Friday when they play host to Peru State in a 7 p.m. tipoff on "Service Appreciation Night" at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.

All past and present members of the police, Highway Patrol, fire, EMTs and Armed Forces - and their families - will be admitted free by presenting a valid ID at the ticket window on an evening where Drury Athletics will honor our heroes with an evening of patriotic tributes and events. (For more information, call The O' ticket office at 417-873-6389).

Coach Steve Hesser's Panthers, ranked sixth by the NABC and ninth by D2SIDA in the national polls, opened the season with a 79-66 victory over Southwest Baptist  on Tuesday in the annual "HIghway 13 Cat Fight" rivalry game at The O'.

Senior guard Kameron Bundy led the way with 23 points (19 after halftime) and senior forward Mike Nwelue added 19 points and 12 rebounds (both DU career-highs) as Drury broke away from a 34-32 halftime deficit to beat the Bearcats for the third straight year.

Peru State, an NAIA member from Peru, Neb., is off to a 5-1 start. Corday Sims, a 6-5 junior, is averaging 16.8 points and Jamar Cannon, a 6-2 junior, adds 16.0 points for the Bobcats, who are averaging 83.5 points per game and allowing just 68.7.

Friday's game can be heard on JOCK 98.7 FM (streamed live at www.jock987.com), and can be viewed in a free, live webcast at www.drurypanthers.com/watch.