Drury Panthers Game Preview
Drury Panthers (7-5, 0-4) vs. Rockhurst Hawks (6-6, 2-2)
Sat., Jan. 6, 2024 – 3 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
HK & W Supply Poster Day
Postgame autograph session with the Panthers  
 
Panthers renew rivalry with Rockhurst on Saturday 
Drury renews their rivalry with Rockhurst on Saturday in an all-time series that dates back nearly a century and has featured 125 head-to-head match-ups. Tipoff is at 3 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
The Panthers are 7-5 and are looking for their first league win, as they are 0-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Drury fell in a back-and-forth game on Wednesday, 79-75, at Illinois Springfield.
 
Rockhurst is 6-6 and 2-2 in the GLVC. The Hawks won on Wednesday, 80-66, in Kansas City. Rockhurst is 2-2 on the road and 4-4 at home.
 
The Panthers lead the all-time series 79-46, but have lost the two encounters.
 
Juok Riak leads Drury, averaging 15.7 points and is shooting .684 from the field. The 6-8 freshman from Madison, Wisconsin, is averaging 23.5 points in his last two games, with 24 points on Dec. 19 against Southern Arkansas and 23 on Wednesday against the Prairie Stars. Logan Applegate averages 12.8 points and has made 31 threes.
 
Following Saturday's game, the Panthers continue their homestand with two games at The O' next week. Drury hosts Maryville on Thursday at 5:45 pm, then Missouri S&T on Saturday at 1 pm.
 
Down to the wire
Each of Drury's last three games have been decided by four points or less. On Wednesday, the Panthers lost at Illinois Springfield, 79-75, but won by four, 72-68, on Dec. 19 at home against Southern Arkansas. Drury lost by three to Southwest Baptist in a 65-62 setback at home on Dec. 9. Six of Drury's 12 games have been decided by five points or less.
 
About Rockhurst
Rockhurst is led by Timaris Brown, averaging 13.3 points and six rebounds. Davit Kakushadze has played in seven games, averaging 12.6 points, while Miles White puts in 10.6 points per contest.
 
The Hawks are coached by Drew Diener, who is in his ninth season at Rockhurst. Diener was previously the head coach at Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee, where his team captured the NAIA Division II national championship in 2013.
 
Last Meeting
Rockhurst 81 Drury 64 (Jan. 28, 2023 at RU)
 -- Timaris Brown had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Rockhurst
-- Logan Applegate led the Panthers with 18 points and 6 rebounds
-- The Hawks shot 51 percent, hitting 27 of 53 shots, including 9 of 20 three-point attempts
-- Drury shot 42 percent, going 21 for 58
-- Rockhurst owned a 42-27 rebounding advantage
 
All-Time series
Drury leads the all-time series against Rockhurst 79-46 in a rivalry that dates back nearly a century. The Hawks won the only meeting between the two teams last year with an 81-64 victory over the Panthers on Jan. 28 in Kansas City. Rockhurst has won the last two games in the series, but Drury won the previous six. The Hawks have not won in the O'Reilly Family Event Center, with their last win at Drury coming in Weiser Gym on Feb. 19, 2009 in a 94-81 win over the Panthers.
 
Drury's last game
Ill. Springfield 79 Drury 75 (Wed., at UIS)
 -- The Panthers shot 53 percent, going 31 from 58
-- Juok Riak had 23 points and went 9 for 14 from the field
-- Jordan Rice had 21 points to lead the Prairie Stars
-- Drury had 16 turnovers to Illinois Springfield's 8
-- The Panthers owned a 34-29 rebounding advantage
-- Illinois Springfield led 41-36 at halftime
 
QUICK FACTS
Records
Drury: 7-5, 0-4
RU: 6-6, 2-2
 
Head Coaches
Drury: Chris Foster (3^rd yr., 26-40  / 10th yr., 143-120)
RU: Drew Diener (9^th yr., 115-119 / 15^th yr., 283-162) 
 
Streak
Drury: Lost 1
RU: Won 1
 
Last 5 Games
Drury: 2-3
RU: 3-2
 
All-Time Series
Drury 79-46
 
Last Meeting
Rockhurst 81 Drury 64 (Jan. 28, 2023 at RU)
 
Next Game
Drury vs. Maryville
Thur., Jan. 11 – 5:30 pm – O'Reilly Family Event Center
 
 
#allweDUiswin