Drury Panthers at Trevecca Classic
Nov. 8-9, 2019 – Trevecca Nazarene
Trojan Fieldhouse – Nashville, Tenn.
 
Live Coverage
Radio: KBFL 96.9 FM/1060 AM (Friday)
     JOCK 98.7 FM (Saturday)
Audio: radiospringfield.com
     TuneIn App (KBLF on Friday, JOCK 98.7 on Saturday)
Live Video: StretchInternet/trevecca
Live Stats: StretchInternet/trevecca
 
Panthers open the season Friday in the Trevecca Classic
The Drury Panthers open their 110th season of intercollegiate competition on Friday in the Trevecca Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. Drury faces Lake Superior State Friday at noon, then takes on host Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday at 6:15 pm.
 
Drury returns one starter and five lettermen while adding nine new faces after going 21-12 and advancing to the NCAA-II tournament for the second straight season last year. Conley Garrison, an NCAA-II All-Midwest Region and First Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection in 2019, leads the cast of returners. The junior from Bolivar averaged 17.5 points last season. Senior guard Isaac Johnson, an all-conference pick two years, also returns and brings in 834 career points into 2019-20.
 
The Panthers added nine new players, including five transfers. Two of the newcomers are being reunited with their high school teammates as Niekie Thomas returns to Springfield, where he played on a Kickapoo High School team with Isaac Johnson that was the Class 5 state runner-up in 2016. Brandon Emmert transfers to Drury from Central Missouri and will play alongside Conley Garrison, a duo that reached the Class 4 state title game while at Bolivar in 2017.
 
Drury's first opponent, Lake Superior State, is coming off of a 15-12 season in 2018-19. The Lakers picked up an exhibition win over Rochester (NAIA), 70-55, on Nov. 2 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Two years ago, Lake Superior State went 25-8 and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA-II tournament where they lost in the opening round to eventual national champion Ferris State.
 
Trevecca Nazarene will take on Southwest Baptist on Friday, then host the Panthers on Saturday night. The Trojans are coming off of a 4-21 season last year but have brought in eight new players under second-year head coach Omar Mance. Trevecca started their year with an exhibition win over Sewanee (NCAA-III) 82-75 on Nov. 2.
 
After the two games this weekend, the Panthers return home to face Harris Stowe State on Thursday, Nov. 14, for a 7 pm game at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
Notes to Know
--The Panthers are 15-1 all-time in season-opening games under head coach Steve Hesser.
--Friday's game against Lake Superior State will be only the second meeting ever against the two programs…the first was in the 2014 NCAA-II Midwest Regional semifinals at Drury and the Panthers picked up a 79-61 win.
--Drury has played Trevecca Nazarene twice but Saturday's game will be the first meeting since Dec. 19, 2001 when the Panthers defeated TNU 86-81 in the Bahamas.
--Drury guard Isaac Johnson needs 60 more points to crack the top 50 on Drury's all-time scoring list. He enters the weekend with 834 career points.
 
QUICK FACTS
Records (2018-19)
Drury: 21-12
Lake Superior St.: 15-12
Trevecca Nazarene: 4-21
 
Head Coaches
DU: Steve Hesser (16th year, 323-126)
LSSU: Steve Hettinga (13th year, 218-132)
TNU: Omar Mance (2nd year, 4-21)
 
Drury's all-time record vs. opponents
1-0 vs Lake Superior State
2-0 vs Trevecca Nazarene
 
Last Meeting
Drury 79 Lake Superior St. 61 (Mar. 16, 2014 at DU - NCAA-II Midwest Regional semifinals)
Drury 86 Trevecca Nazarene 81 (Dec. 19, 2001 - in the Bahamas)
 
Drury Schedule in the Trevecca Classic
Friday: vs. Lake Superior State, noon
Saturday: at Trevecca Nazarene, 6:15 pm
 
Next
Panthers vs. Harris Stowe St., Thur., Nov. 14 at DU
 
 
#allweDUiswin