Drury Panthers Game Preview
Drury Panthers (3-1) in DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic
Tue.-Wed., Nov. 21-22 – 7:45 pm – O'Reilly Family Event Center
 
Tickets
$12 (kids 12 and under FREE)
Order Online
417-873-7000
 
Live Coverage
Radio- KICK 92.3 FM / 1340 AM
Live Audio- www.923kick.com, TuneIn app
Live Video
Live Stats
 
Promotion
DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic
 
Drury hosts DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic 
The Drury Panthers host the DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic on Tuesday and Wednesday at the O'Reilly Family Event Center. The Panthers will take on Fontbonne at 7:45 pm on Tuesday, then Missouri Southern State on Wednesday at 7:45 pm.
 
Drury is 3-1 and coming off a road loss at Arkansas Tech on Nov. 16. The Panthers trailed by 22 early in the second half but rallied to have two chances to take the lead in the final two minutes and had the ball down by one with 12 seconds left. A turnover sealed the win for the Wonderboys, however, and gave Drury their first loss of the year.
 
Fontbonne, an NCAA-III program based in St. Louis, is 3-1. The Griffins won their last last game, a 95-82 win over East-West on Saturday. Tuesday's game is the first regular season meeting between the two programs.
 
Missouri Southern is 2-1. The Lions lost their season opener to Minnesota State-Moorhead, 99-81, on Nov. 10, but bounced back to beat Bemidji State 69-61 the following day. MSSU's first two games were played at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Missouri Southern won their home opener with a 92-56 win over Central Christian on Nov. 13. The Lions will play Illinois Springfield at 3:15 pm on Tuesday before facing the Panthers.
 
Drury leads the all-time series against Missouri Southern 33-21 but the two teams have not played one another since Nov. 26, 2016, when the Panthers won at home, 83-68.
 
The Panthers start their conference schedule with their next game. Drury travels to Lewis on Nov. 30 for a 7:30 pm game against the Flyers in Romeoville, Illinois.
 
DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic Schedule
Tuesday
Illinois Springfield vs. Missouri Southern St., 3:15 pm
PANTHERS vs. Fontbonne, 7:45 pm
 
Wednesday
Illinois Springfield vs. Fontbonne, 3:15 pm
PANTHERS vs. Missouri Southern, 7:45 pm
 
About Fontbonne
The Griffins are off to a 3-1 start after going 16-12 last year. Fontbonne won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament last season after going 10-4 in the league's regular season. They reached the NCAA-III National Tournament and lost in the opening round to Wisconsin-Oshkosh 86-58.
 
About Missouri Southern
Missouri Southern is 2-1 and has played two games on a neutral floor and one game at home. The Lions went 17-13 and 12-10 in the MIAA last year.
 
The team is led by second-year head coach Sam McMahon, a former Missouri State assistant under Paul Lusk. He was previously an assistant at Southeast Missouri State, and served as an assistant coach at Missouri Southern.
 
The Lions are picked to finish fifth in this year's MIAA preseason polls and return all five starters from last year's team. That group includes three All-MIAA selections from last year, Avery Taggart, Vinson Sigmon, Jr., and Winston Dessesow. 
  
QUICK FACTS
Records
Drury: 3-1
Font.: 3-1
MSSU: 2-1
Ill. Spr.: 2-3
 
Head Coaches
Drury: Chris Foster (3^rd yr., 22-37/9th yr., 139-116)
Font.: Lance Thornhill (10^th year, 82-113)
MSSU: Sam McMahon (2^nd year, 19-14) 
 
Streak
Drury: Lost 1
Font.: Won 2
MSSU: Won 2
 
Last 5 Games
Drury: 3-1
Font.: 3-1
MSSU: 2-1
 
All-Time Series
Drury, first meeting vs. Fontbonne
Drury 33-21 vs Missouri Southern
 
Last Meeting
First Meeting vs. Fontbonne
Drury 83 Missouri Southern 68 (Nov. 26, 2016 at DU)
 
Next Game
Drury at Lewis
Thur., Nov. 30 -- 7:30 pm
Romeoville, Ill.
 
#allweDUiswin