SPRINGFIELD, IL – Drury University shut down the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's basketball team in an 80-60 victory during Thursday's Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matchup.
 
The Panthers (13-4, 6-3) led the Prairie Stars (12-7) by a 30-28 margin with 2 minutes, 29 seconds to go in the first half. Drury rattled off nine points in a row to enter halftime with a 39-28 advantage. The Panthers outscored UIS 41-32 in the second half.
 
"We were within two late in the first half and Drury did what good teams do; they closed the half," UIS coach Bill Walker said.
 
UIS was limited on its mistakes throughout the game. The Prairie Stars turned the ball over just eight times and topped the Panthers 21-11 in points off turnovers. Drury committed 16 turnovers. UIS planned to seize on Drury's defense, which entered Thursday allowing 45.8 percent (410-of-896) of shots to be made from the floor.
 
"That was one of our things. They were allowing opponents to shoot 46 percent from the field. For all of their good things, that was one Achilles heel where if we could just not turn the ball over, we were going to get enough shots to have a chance."
 
Drury's defense showed up and held UIS to 21-of-61 (34.4 percent) shooting from the field and 9-of-30 (30 percent) shooting from 3-point range.
 
"It's a credit to their defense if you can't make shots but they were allowing 46 percent from the field. We had about three guys go cold all at the same time and we need to find a way to rectify that."
 
Meanwhile, the Panthers drained 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) shots from behind the arc and 29-of-52 (55.8 percent) attempts from the floor. Among NCAA Division II leaders, Drury entered the game leading the nation with a .444 3-point field-goal percentage. The Panthers are also ranked ninth, nationally, with a .507 field-goal percentage.
 
"This is no question the best 3-point shooting team we've seen. They're shooting 44 percent for the year so this was not a huge anomaly. They recruit good shooters and they've got them."
 
Drury collected 11 offensive rebounds and finished with a 19-10 advantage in second-chance points.
 
"They got too many offensive rebounds early."
 
The Panthers beat the Prairie Stars on the boards by a 45-25 margin.
 
Drury sank 11-of-18 (61.1 percent) shots from the free-throw line while UIS made 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) shots from the charity stripe.
 
The Panthers posted 80 points despite entering the game ranked eighth in the nation with a scoring average of 89.8 points. In 17 games, Drury has broken triple digits six time and has scored fewer than 80 points three times this season.
 
"As I look at it, it's weird. I'm disappointed in our defense, but Drury doesn't score under 80."
 
Gilwan Nelson led the Prairie Stars with nine points. Eddie Longmeyer contributed seven points and six rebounds. Brandon Van Sant and CJ Payawal each added six points. Logan Gonce, Aundrae Williams and Bahari Amaya provided five points apiece. Zach Steinberg, Lijah Donnelly and Collin Stallworth scored four points each. Vince Walker netted three points and Kaj Days rounded out the UIS scoring effort with two points.
 
Douglas Moore put together 19 points and nine rebounds for Drury. Conley Garrison turned in 17 points and six assists. Andrew Ballock contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds while Kamau Kinder produced 12 points and six assists. Moore knocked down 8-of-10 (80 percent) shots from the floor while Garrison drained 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) attempts from 3-point range.
 
"I wish we would have played better. I'm disappointed but not downhearted."
 
UIS faces off the University of Indianapolis (12-6, 6-4) in conference action on Saturday at 3 p.m. in TRAC.
 
"We've got a really good team here on Saturday, so we'll make some changes, but we won't pout, and no one feel sorry for us. We'll be ready Saturday."