CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.— The Drury Panthers started the 2024-25 season with a 64-53 win at Thomas More on Friday at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
 
The game was the season opener for both teams.
 
Drury owned a 29-25 lead at halftime, then went up by 16 midway through the second half, 55-39. The Saints charged back with a 10-0 run, but the Panthers held on to win their season opener for the fourth straight year.
 
"You've got to give Thomas More a lot of credit as they switched back and forth out of their press to zone and man-and-man, which threw us off at times," said Drury head coach Chris Foster. "And on offense, I thought our guys were just pressing too hard. But we settled down better in the second half and got some points when we needed it."
 
Zach Howell led the Panthers with 21 points in his Drury debut. The 6-5 guard, who set the all-time scoring record at Springfield Catholic, returned to his home city after two seasons at Division I Milwaukee. Howell went 7 for 18 from the field and 4 for 10 from three-point range. He added a team-high seven rebounds and four steals.
 
Quenton Shelton and Logan Applegate both added nine points for the Panthers.
 
Cam McClain led Thomas More with 19 points.
 
Drury shot 45 percent in the game, going 24 for 53 and held the Saints to 38 percent on 18 of 47 shooting. The Panthers also forced 24 turnovers and had 20 steals in the game.
 
"I thought our defense was really good," added Foster. "I thought our guys competed on the defensive end."
 
The Panthers play their home opener for their next contest as they host Rogers State on Nov. 16 at 3 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
 
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