Drury Panthers Game Preview
Drury Panthers (5-3) vs. Univ. of the Ozarks Eagles (5-3)
Tue., Dec. 5, 2023 – 5:45 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
Great Southern Halftime presents the Drury Marching Bandthers
 
Panthers return home to face University of the Ozarks 
The Drury Panthers return from two games on the road last week to host the University of the Ozarks in a non-conference game on Tuesday at 5:45 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
Drury is 5-3 after falling at Lewis on Thursday, 75-64, and Indianapolis, 82-51, on Saturday.
 
University of the Ozarks is also 5-3, and the Eagles are coming off a 91-83 win on Saturday over Howard Payne in their conference opener.
 
Juok Riak is expected to return to Drury's line-up on Tuesday. The 6-8 freshman leads the team, averaging 14.6 points and shooting .678 from the floor. Sophomore Elijah Whitley has come off the bench to score in double-figures in each of the last three games. The Parkview HS product is averaging 11.3 points in his last three games and he led the Panthers with 11 points at Indianapolis on Saturday.
 
Drury's two losses last marked the first time they have fallen in back-to-back games this season.
 
After Tuesday's game, the Panthers return to conference play, hosting Southwest Baptist on Saturday at 3 pm. Saturday is Hall of Fame Day and Overflow the O' presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts.
 
About the Eagles
The University of the Ozarks, based in Clarksville, Arkansas, is an NCAA-III institution and member of the American Southwest Conference. The Eagles won their first four games of the season before losing three straight.
 
The team is led by Josh Ukpe, who is averaging 13.5 points with 20 three-pointers in his first eight games. Tim Eldridge is averaging 12.1 points for the season.
 
The Eagles are coached by Matt Bolton, who is in his second year as head coach.
 
Last Meeting
Drury 89 Univ. of the Ozarks 67 (Nov. 10, 2012, at DU)
 -- The Panthers led 51-30 at the half
-- Alex Hall had 15 points for Drury while Brandon Lockhart added 12 points and 7 assists
-- Cameron Adams came off the bench to lead with team with 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the field
 -- Drury owned a 50-31 rebounding advantage
-- This was the season-opening game for a Panthers team that would go on to win the NCAA-II National Championship and finish 31-4
 
All-Time series
Drury is playing the University of the Ozarks for the first time since Nov. 10, 2012, when they won 89-67 in the O'. The Panthers lead the all-time series against the Eagles 6-2. The two programs met several times in the 1980s when both were in the NAIA. University of the Ozarks was known then as College of the Ozarks (and the C of O institution in Point Lookout, Missouri was called School of the Ozarks at the time).
 
Drury's last game
Indianapolis 82 Drury 51 (Sat. at UIndy)
 -- Drury trailed Indianapolis 42-20 at halftime
-- The Greyhounds shot 52 percent, hitting 20 of 56 shots and were 14 for 23 from three-point range (61 percent)
-- Drury shot 31 percent going 18 for 59
-- Elijah Whitley led the Panthers with 11 points
  
QUICK FACTS
Records
Drury: 5-3
U of O: 5-3
 
Head Coaches
Drury: Chris Foster (3^rd yr., 24-39/10th yr., 141-118)
U of O: Matt Bolton (2^nd year, 13-20)
 
Streak
Drury: Lost 2
U of O: Won 1
 
Last 5 Games
Drury: 2-3
U of O: 2-3
 
All-Time Series
Drury 6-2
 
Last Meeting
Drury 89 Univ. of the Ozarks 67 (Nov. 10, 2012 at DU)
 
Next Game
Drury vs Southwest Baptist
Sat., Dec. 9 – 3 pm
O'Reilly Family Event Center
 
#allweDUiswin