SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri S&T's men's basketball struggled on the offensive end for much of the night and suffered a 90-48 loss to No. 22-ranked Drury in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Saturday night.

 

The Miners scored only 19 points in the first half and found themselves staring at a 25-point deficit by halftime. S&T was able to close the margin down to 15 in the early stages of the second half, but the Panthers were able to pull away and send the Miners to their fourth straight loss – and third to a ranked team in that stretch.

 

S&T trailed by just four at 13-9 at the 12:50 mark of the first half after a basket by Aaron Hays (Kirksville, Mo./Kirksville), but while the Miners were shooting just 33.3 percent in the period, the Panthers put together a 21-4 run to build a 21-point advantage over the next eight minutes.

 

Drury led 44-19 at halftime, but the Miners outscored the Panthers 15-5 to open the second half as they made six of their first eight shots after the break. Adam Knollmeyer (Linn, Mo./Linn)'s lay-in with 14:28 left made the score 49-34, but Drury ended any S&T hopes of a rally by scoring the next 18 points to turn the contest into a runaway.

 

Knollmeyer was the only Miner to finish in double figures with 14 points, while Bryce Foster (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) finished with nine and Marquis Jones (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) with eight. S&T shot 48.3 percent in the second half to finish the night at 41.5 percent.

 

Drury (13-3, 6-1 GLVC) had four players in double figures, led by Dominique Long with 21 points, as it shot 49.2 percent for the night and forced S&T into 31 turnovers.

 

The Miners (5-11, 1-7 GLVC) will host Indianapolis Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Billy Key Court.