ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T's upset bid Monday night against 22^nd-ranked Drury came up short, as the Panthers were able to pull out a 72-62 overtime win over the Miners in S&T's final home game of the season at Billy Key Court.

 

The Miners seemed to be in position to win the game in regulation time, but the Miners were called for a lane violation when Johnathan Jordan was making the second of two free throws with 37 seconds to play. The free throw, which would have put S&T on top by one, was instead wiped off the scoreboard.

 

Drury had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but Chase Elliott's shot was off the mark to send the contest into overtime.

 

Elliott, however, put the Panthers back on top with a pair of free throws 10 seconds into overtime. Drury extended the lead to six on two more free throws by Alex Hall and a jumper by Brandon Lockhart before the Miners' Byron Bundy (Columbia, Mo./Hickman) hit a pair of free throws at the 2:51 mark.

 

However, the Miners were unable to score again in overtime until just 17 seconds remained as they dropped a decision to the Panthers in a game that went beyond regulation time for the second year in succession.

 

S&T got out to a quick 8-2 lead to start the contest and led for much of the first half. Drury didn't grab its first lead of the period until the 9:30 mark after Lockhart made a steal and scored to give the Panthers a 20-19 lead. The Miners answered back by scoring nine of the next 12 points to regain a five-point advantage nearly four minutes later.

 

The Miners would lead 36-34 at the break.

 

Drury moved back in front at 39-38 on a free throw by Hall four minutes into the second half. It was the first of nine lead changes in the second half, but the Miners forced a cold stretch by the Panthers in the final five minutes to give themselves a chance to pull out the win.

 

The Panthers got a jumper from Cable Hogue with 5:01 to go to take a 56-53 lead, but aside from a pair of free throws from Dennon Mitchell 38 seconds later that extended the lead to five, Drury went scoreless down the stretch.

 

As Drury was going 0-of-7 from the floor in the final 5:01, the Miners kept drawing closer. Adam Knollmeyer (Linn, Mo./Linn) hit a layup with 3:39 remaining to cut the lead to three, then Marquis Jones (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) hit two free throws with 2:10 left to make it a one-point game. The Miners got two defensive stops, then Jordan went to the free throw line with 37 seconds to go and a chance to give S&T the lead.

 

Jordan made the first free throw to knot the score at 58, but a lane violation on the second attempt – which went through the net – caused that to be waved off and set up Drury a chance to win it.

 

Bryce Foster (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) led the Miners (7-18, 3-13 GLVC) with 16 points, while Jones finished the night with 14 and Knollmeyer with 10. Knollmeyer also collected 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and added three blocked shots.

 

Elliott led all scorers with 20 points and Mitchell added 12 for the Panthers (21-5, 14-3), who clinched the GLVC West title with the victory.

 

The Miners will play at Missouri-St. Louis Thursday in a 7:30 p.m. contest.