SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- The Drury Panthers applied defensive pressure all evening long Monday night against the Central Christian Saints and the result was a 93-53 win at the O'Reilly Family Event Center and helped them snap a brief early-season two game losing skid.
 
Drury came away with 15 steals against the Saints and forced a total of 24 turnovers, limiting the visitors in total possessions and cruised home with the win to improve to 6-3 on the season.
 
The Panthers took control of the contest in the closing minutes of the first half, as they put together a 22-4 scoring run, highlighted by a dozen forced turnovers to lead at halftime 48-26.
 
Drury got a one-two scoring punch from sophomores Zach Howell and Juok Riak to pace the win.  Howell finished with 19 points, including 5 of 10 shooting from three-point range. 
 
Riak closed with 18 points and topped Drury's rebounding effort with a team-high eight.
 
The Panthers won the battle of the boards, 44-36 over Central Christian, including 20 on the offensive end.
 
"We knew we were going to have a size advantage going into the game," said Drury head coach Chris Foster.  "We really asked the guys to press and when Zach (Howell) rebounds like he did as well as the others, we're a different team.  Those are the effort plays that can swing a game and it did tonight."
 
The Saints were topped in scoring by Quincy James, Jr., who closed with 14.  Central Christian fell to 2-9 with the loss.
 
The Panthers will conclude their pre-holiday action next, when they travel to Arkansas-Fort Smith for a 1pm game on Saturday, December 21st.