Ed Beach (Drury Sports Information) RENSSELAER, Ind. – The Drury Panthers held a Saint Joseph’s team that was averaging more than 90 points per game to 77 for a 90-77 win on Thursday in Rensselaer, Indiana.
The Panthers snapped a two-game skid to raise their record to 11-3 and 4-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Saint Joseph’s fell to 7-8 and 1-4 in the league.
Drury set the tone defensively in the first half owning a 40-32 lead at halftime. The Pumas were held to 40 percent shooting from the field as they went 26 for 65 from the floor. Drury shot 55 percent going 34 for 62.
“I thought we did some nice things defensively in the first half,” said Drury head coach Steve Hesser. “What we need to learn is, when you have momentum, you’ve got to keep your foot on the gas. We did enough things in the second half to keep us ahead but we made some mistakes when we got tired and that’s area where we have to improve.”
Joshua Palmer and Tevin Foster both had 19 points to lead Drury. Palmer’s total was a season high as the senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma went 8 for 9 from the floor and had six rebounds. Foster registered a double-double with 10 assists to go with his 19 points. Isaac Johnson added 18 points for the Panthers going 6 for 8 from the field and was 4 of 5 from three-point range.
Kindred Williams led all scorers as he put in 21 points for the Saint Joseph’s.
Drury plays the second half of the road trip on Saturday at the University of Indianapolis. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday at UIndy.
