Drury Panthers Game Preview
Drury Panthers (6-4) vs. Southern Arkansas Muleriders (4-5)
Tue., Dec. 19, 2023 – 4 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
Law Enforcement Day  
 
Panthers host Southern Arkansas before heading to holiday break 
Drury will play their final game before their holiday break on Tuesday when they host Southern Arkansas at 4 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
The Panthers are 6-4 and have been idle since Dec. 9, when they lost at home to Southwest Baptist, 65-62. Tuesday's game against Southern Arkansas is Drury's lost non-conference game on their regular season schedule.
 
Southern Arkansas is 4-5 and coming off a loss on Sunday at Arkansas Tech, 69-57. The Muleriders have only played two road games this season and have dropped both. In addition to their loss at Arkansas Tech last weekend, the Muleriders dropped a 57-51 contest at Harding on Dec. 3.
 
Drury is paced by freshman forward Juok Riak, who is averaging 14 points per game and shooting .685 from the field. The Madison, Wisconsin native has converted 50 of his 73 field goal attempts in nine games. Logan Applegate, last year's GLVC Freshman of the Year, is averaging 12 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest.
 
Following Tuesday's game, the Panthers head into the NCAA-mandated "Life In Balance" break and will be inactive for seven days before returning to practice after Christmas. Drury's next game is Jan. 3, when they travel to Illinois Springfield for a 7:30 pm tipoff.
 
About Southern Arkansas
Southern Arkansas is led by Carel Ray, Jr., who is averaging 15.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, while Greg Hammond, Jr., last year's Newcomer of the Year in the Great American Conference, leads the Muleriders in rebounds, averaging 8.8 boards to go with 13.3 points. Head coach Logan Quinn is in his second season as head coach at Southern Arkansas and led the team to a 22-10 record, a GAC tournament championship, and an NCAA-II Tournament appearance last year.  This year's Southern Arkansas roster features 11 newcomers and four returners.
 
Last Meeting
Southern Arkansas 87 Drury 78 (Dec. 19, 2022 at S. Ark.)
 -- Southern Arkansas led 43-39 at halftime but pulled away, outscoring Drury 48-35 in the second half
 -- Blake Rogers led the Muleriders with 27 points and Kris Wyche added 20
 -- Logan Applegate came off the bench for Drury to put in 26
 -- Southern Arkansas was 13 for 20 from the foul line, while the Panthers went 5 for 7 from the line and only two Drury players got to the line
 -- The Muleriders owned a 40-30 rebounding advantage
 
All-Time series
Drury and Southern Arkansas have only played one another twice and the series is tied 1-1. The home team has won both each time, as the Panthers won at home, 66-58, on Nov. 29, 2019, and the Muleriders won last year's contest, 87-78, on Dec. 19 in Magnolia, Ark. 
 
Drury's last game
Southwest Baptist 65 Drury 62 (Dec. 9 at DU)
 -- Drury came from 15 down in the second half and had a chance to take the lead with 18 seconds remaining, but a turnover ended their comeback chances
 -- Logan Applegate led the Panthers with 17 points
 -- Juok Riak added 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting from the field
 -- SBU out-rebounded Drury 42-25
 -- The Bearcats led 31-24 at halftime
 -- The Panthers shot 41 percent, going 21 for 51 and were 8 for 27 (30 percent) from three-point range
 
QUICK FACTS
Records
Drury: 6-4
S. Ark.: 4-5
 
Head Coaches
Drury: Chris Foster (3^rd yr., 25-39/10th yr., 142-119)
S. Ark.: Logan Quinn (2^nd year, 26-16)  
 
Streak
Drury: Lost 1
S. Ark.: Lost 1
 
Last 5 Games
Drury: 2-3
S. Ark.: 2-3
 
All-Time Series
Tied, 1-1
 
Last Meeting
Southern Ark. 87 Drury 78 (Dec. 19, 2022 at S. Ark.)
 
Next Game
Drury at Illinois Springfield
Wed., Jan. 3, 2024 -- 7:30 pm
 
 
#allweDUiswin