ST. LOUIS, MO. – The Drury Panthers fought from 14 points down in the first half and nearly erased a double-digit deficit in the second half, but fell short in a 68-59 loss at Maryville on Saturday.
The Panthers fell behind 29-15 with 8:26 left in the first half but trailed by seven, 36-29, at the intermission. After trailing by as much as 13 in the second half, a lay-up by Drury’s Jason Montgomery had with Panthers within one, 49-48, with 8:23 remaining.
The Saints responded, though, with a 6-0 run, and when Drury pulled back within two with 3:13 left, Maryville’s Ari Jackson would hit three’s on back-to-back possessions that put the Panthers down 61-53 with 2:48 to go.
“I’m really proud of our guy’s effort,” said Drury head coach Steve Hesser. “I thought they tried, but we turned the basketball over way too much. Where we have to improve moving forward is knowing our scouting report. Our assistant coaches work hard putting information together, but our guys have to remember it and know it. We get it within two, then leave a three-point shooter open on back-to-back possessions. Now we’re down eight, and we’re fighting uphill again.”
Malek Davis led the Panthers with 15 points while Jason Montgomery added 13, and Conley Garrison had 11.
Daniel Farris had a game-high 18 points for Maryville.
Drury was held to 37 percent shooting as they went 23 for 62 and 8 for 24 (33 percent) from three-point range. The Saints connected on 43 percent of their shots, hitting 23 of 54 while making 11 of 23 from behind the arc.
The Panthers travel to William Jewell for their next game as they take on the Cardinals on Tue., Feb. 2, for a 7 pm contest in Liberty, Missouri.
