Drury Panthers (4-3, 0-1 GLVC) at Truman State Bulldogs (2-3, 0-1 GLVC)
Opponent	Truman State
Date  |  Tip	Thursday, Dec. 4  |  7:30 p.m.
Location  |  Site	Kirksville, Mo.  |  Pershing Arena (2,300)
Game Links	Drury Game Notes  |  Listen  |  Watch  |  Live Stats
Follow	X: @DruryMBB  |  IG: @DruryMBB

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury men's basketball continues a three-game road swing to open Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday (Dec. 4) when it travels to Kirksville for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with Truman State at Pershing Arena.

The Panthers are 12-13 all-time against Truman State, including a 6-9 record against the Bulldogs since they joined the GLVC in 2013-14.

Drury (4-3, 0-1 GLVC) has dropped three consecutive contests after starting the season 4-0, including a 76-59 road setback at SBU in its GLVC opener Monday evening in Bolivar. Truman State (2-3, 0-1 GLVC) will also be looking to bounce back after suffering back-to-back losses to Rockhurst and Purdue Northwest.

Fans may follow the action through the GLVC Sports Network (subscription required), where games will be streamed live throughout the regular season. New for the 2025-26 academic year, viewing access to live broadcasts from GLVC regular season and postseason contests will be available via monthly subscription ($30) or annual subscription ($140). Single-event access can also be purchased for $15. 

Audio broadcasts for all Drury men's basketball games in 2025-26 will be streamed online through the DU All-Access button via DruryPanthers.com. Fans may access the audio streams by visiting the 2025-26 schedule page for the Panthers and selecting the "Listen" link, or via the DU All Access button located on the home page.

SERIES HISTORY

• Truman State brings a 13-12 series advantage into Thursday's contest, including a 9-6 mark vs. Drury since the Bulldogs joined the GLVC in 2013.
• The Bulldogs have also won three-straight meetings in the series dating back to the 2023-24 season.
• Last season, the Bulldogs claimed a one-point victory in Springfield (Dec. 7), then completed the season sweep with a 79-63 win in Kirksville (Feb. 6).
• Drury's last victory over Truman came in Springfield on March 2, 2024, with a 90-87 decision that closed the 2023-24 season.

ABOUT TRUMAN STATE

• Truman State enters Thursday's contest 2-3 overall and 0-1 in GLVC play under first-year head coach Mike Worley.
• The Bulldogs have wins over Cedarville (Nov. 15) and Calvary (Nov. 19) to their credit, but have dropped their last two games, including a 95-79 shootout with Rockhurst (Nov. 29) in their GLVC opener last weekend in Kansas City.
• Truman is shooting .487 from the floor -- good for fourth overall in the GLVC -- while averaging 78.2 points per game.
• The Bulldogs are led by Jahki Parrinello's 18.8 ppg average, which ranks sixth overall in the GLVC.
• Additionally, Julian Brown chips in with 13.6 points per outing, while Emmanuel Byrd (11.4 ppg) and Ja'Vion Byers (11.0 ppg) are averaging double figures for the Bulldogs.
• On the defensive end of the floor, the Bulldogs have permitted an average of 78.6 points per game, while limiting the opposition to .288 shooting from three-point range.

ABOUT DRURY

• Drury is coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2019-21 after going 14-13 a year ago and 15-13 in 2023-24. 
• Now in his fifth season as head coach of the Panthers, Chris Foster brings a 52-64 record as DU's bench boss into Thursday's contest.
• The Ironton, Mo., native has compiled a 169-144 overall record in his 12 seasons as a collegiate head coach -- all at the NCAA Division II level within the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
• DU posted its first 4-0 start in six years, with wins over Ohio Dominican, Thomas More, Ecclesia and Ozark Christian.
• Drury is paced by an offense that features four double-figure scorers, led by sophomore guard Colin Hardrick (15.6) and junior guard Zach Howell (15.1 ppg). 
• Howell is DU's leading returning scorer, while Hardrick earned GLVC All-Freshman and All-Defensive team honors last winter after averaging 10.2 points, 6.7 boards and 2.0 steals per outing.
• Several talented newcomers have contributed significantly in their first three weeks as Panthers: freshman KeShaun Thomas (14.0 ppg) has been a dominant force in the paint, scoring in double-figures in six of the Panthers' seven games, including a pair of double-doubles; fellow rookie Keion Epps is averaging 8.5 points as the Panthers' fourth-leading scorer, in addition to a GLVC-best 5.5 assist-per-game average; finally, redshirt freshman Isaiah Otyaluk has chipped in with 6.2 points per outing.

PANTHERS TABBED FIFTH IN GLVC PRESEASON POLL

• Drury was tabbed fifth in the GLVC 2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Hardrick is Drury's lone returning All-GLVC performer after the Milwaukee native averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and a league-best 2.0 steals per outing in 2024-25 to earn All-Freshman and All-Defensive Team honors.
• The Panthers went 9-11 to tie for ninth in the GLVC regular-season standings last season.
• Drury received 121 points in the poll, finishing behind preseason favorite Missouri S&T (196), Lincoln (174), UMSL (161) and Rockhurst (141).
  

DRURY ON THE LEADERBOARD

• The Panthers rank among the GLVC's top clubs in a number of categories, including rebounding (38.1) and steals (10.3) per game, ranking second in each category.
• DU ranks third in blocked shots (3.4) and fourth in turnover margin (1.9).
• DU also leads the conference and ranks 15th nationally in home attendance (970).
• Individually, Epps' 5.5 assists per game is the top average in the GLVC.
• Howell leads the GLVC in steals (15) and ranks second in the conference (and 14th nationally) in three-point field goals made (22).
• Howell ranks eighth in the GLVC in three-point percentage (.440).
• Hardrick ranks third in the GLVC in total rebounds (48), as well as fifth in minutes per game (33:59) and field goals made (40). 
• Aladji Gassama ranks fourth in the conference in total blocks (8).

LOOKING AHEAD
The Panthers conclude their road trip Saturday (Dec. 6) with a 3 p.m. GLVC contest at Quincy.

For all the latest information on Drury men's basketball, visit DruryPanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on X and Instagram.

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