SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drury Panthers unveiled their 2017-18 squad with a 117-45 exhibition win over Blackburn (Ill.) on Monday at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
The Panthers burst out of the gate with a 16-2 run in the game's first five minutes and went on to a 44-17 lead at halftime.
 
Drury shot 65 percent from the field hitting 44 of their 68 shots and the defense created havoc forcing 31 Blackburn turnovers.
 
Sophomore Isaac Johnson had 17 points to lead the Panthers as Drury had six players score in double-figures. The Kickapoo product went 5 for 7 from three-point range.
 
Ozark product Tyler Clanton, a transfer from North Arkansas Community College, hit his first five shots and had 15 points in his Drury debut. He finished the game going 6 for 7, 3 for 3 from the free throw line, and he contributed five rebounds.
 
"I thought Tyler Clanton really set the tone at the beginning of the game with his effort on the offensive boards and that led to some easy baskets," said Drury head coach Steve Hesser. "The thing that pleased me was that, when I looked out on the floor, I could see the things we've been working on since October 15^th."
 
Freshman Conley Garrison had 12 points, Brandon Wolfe, Drury's lone senior on the squad, had 11 points, while junior guard John Williams and freshman forward Julius Walker had 10 points. Walker's 10 points came in nine minutes of playing time.
 
No Blackburn player reached double-figures in the game.
 
Drury opens the regular season on Friday when they host Ottawa (Kan.) for a 7 p.m. game at the O'Reilly Family Event Center. 
 

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