Drury Panthers Game Preview
Drury Panthers (10-4, 3-4) at Upper Iowa Peacocks (9-5, 4-2)
Thur., Jan. 18, 2024 – 7:30 pm – Dorman Memorial Gym – Fayette, Iowa     
 
Live Coverage
Radio- KICK 92.3 FM / 1340 AM
Live Audio- 923kick.com, TuneIn app
Live Video: GLVCSN (pay-per-view)
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/uiu/mbball
 
Drury faces GLVC's top offense at Upper Iowa 
Drury begins a two-game northern road swing at Upper Iowa on Thursday at 7:30 pm.
 
The Panthers are 10-5, 3-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Drury has won three straight, with their latest win coming on Saturday in an 89-82 win victory over Missouri S&T in Springfield.
 
Upper Iowa is the highest scoring team in the GLVC averaging nearly 90 points per game. The Peacocks put up 89.7 points per game and are 9-5 with a 4-2 record in the conference. Upper Iowa has won four of their last five games and won in their last time on the floor with an 88-84 win at Quincy on Saturday.
 
Juok Riak leads the Panthers with a 15.2 scoring average, and he ranks second in the GLVC in field goal percentage (.658). Logan Applegate is averaging 15 points for Drury and leads the league in three-pointers made averaging 2.8 makes per game from behind the arc.
 
Thursday's game is the first meeting between the two programs since Nov. 23, 2018, when Upper Iowa won 83-78 in Springfield. The Panthers lead the all-time series 2-1 with all three games having been played in Springfield. Upper Iowa is in its first season as a GLVC member.
 
Drury continues their road trip after Thursday's game as they travel to Truman State for a 3 pm game on Saturday in Kirksville, Mo.
 
About Upper Iowa
Not only is Upper Iowa the league's top scoring team in the conference, they feature the GLVC's top individual scorer. Jake Hilmer is averaging 25.1 points, the top mark in the league. The senior has shot 103 free throws already and is 93 for 103 at the stripe (his .903 percentage ranks second in the conference), and he is fifth in the GLVC in assists with a 4.5 per game average.
 
Noah King ranks third in the GLVC in scoring, averaging 18.4 points.
 
The Peacocks have not lost at home yet this year as they feature a 4-0 mark on their home court.
 
Last Meeting
Upper Iowa 83 Drury 78 (Nov. 23, 2018 at DU)
-- Drury led 43-37 at halftime before Upper Iowa rallied in the second half for the win
-- Conley Garrison had 28 points for Drury, hit 10 of 15 shots, including 6 out of 9 three's, and added 6 assists
-- Upper Iowa went 18 for 35 from three-point range, while the Panthers went 14 for 43 from long-range
-- Joe Smoldt had 20 points to lead Upper Iowa
 
All-Time series
Drury leads the all-time series against Upper Iowa 2-1. This is the Panthers first trip to Fayette, Iowa as all three games have been played in Springfield. The last meeting between the two clubs was Nov. 23, 2018, and Upper Iowa came away with an 83-78 win. The Panthers picked up an 88-69 win over the Peacocks on Nov. 13, 2010, in the O'Reilly Family Event Center, and they defeated Upper Iowa, 81-67, on Nov. 15, 2008, in Weiser Gym.
 
Drury's last game
Drury 89 Missouri S&T 82 (Sat., at DU)
-- Logan Applegate led all scorers with 27 points
-- Drury outscored the Miners 49-40 in the second half
-- Riley Naeger scored a season-high 23 points and went 8 for 8 from the field and 2 for 2 from three-point range
-- The Panthers went 19 for 21 from the free throw line
-- Ikenna Okeke led Missouri S&T with 23 points
 
QUICK FACTS
Records  
Drury: 10-5 (3-4)
UIU: 9-5 (4-2)
 
Head Coaches
Drury: Chris Foster (3^rd year, 29-40/10th year, 146-120)
UIU: Brooks McKowen (11^th year, 175-134) 
 
Last Game
Drury: Won vs. Missouri S&T 89-82 (Sat.)
UIU: Won at Quincy 88-84 (Sat.)
 
Streak
Drury: Won 3
UIU: Won 1
 
Last 5 Games
Drury: 4-1
UIU: 4-1
 
All-Time Series
Drury 2-1
 
Last Meeting
Upper Iowa 83 Drury 78 (Nov. 23, 2018 at DU)
 
Next
Drury at Truman St. – Sat., Jan. 20, 2024
3 pm – Kirksville, Mo.
 
 
#allwewDUiswin