Kameron Bundy scored 22 points to lead three Panthers in double-figures as Drury pulled away late for a 78-69 victory over Maryville in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday night at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
Lucciano Gamiz added 15 points – on 5-of-7 shooting – and Tevin Foster had 14 points as the Panthers improved to 17-7 overall and 12-4 in the GLVC with their fifth consecutive victory, keeping DU atop the West Division standings by a game over Quincy and two ahead of Truman State with two to play.
Coach Steve Hesser's Panthers – who moved to 5-0 in February – trailed the Saints 68-67 with 4:05 to play after two free throws by Maryville's Forrester Sims.
But the Panthers buckled down and held Maryville to just one free throw the rest of the way, surging ahead with a big bucket to snag the lead and then a 3-pointer, both from Foster, to help DU stay there down the stretch.
"Give Maryville credit … that's the thing about people when they play us, they brought their 'A' game today," Hesser said. "They have some length and quickness and they gave us a battle. I'm proud of my guys for stepping up and making plays when we needed to, to get out of here with a victory.
"Tevin Foster struggles a bit a times and had some battles within himself, but he ignited us late … he leaves his man and makes a play on the ball in the middle of the floor and gets a layup out of it, and that kind of got him going. Then we made some big stops down the stretch."
Drury led 42-35 at the half, but only after finishing it with a 13-4 run to close it out. The Saints charged back early in the half to grab a 45-44 lead less than three minutes in, setting up the back and forth until the Panthers' late surge from there.
Drury shot a blistering 68 percent in the first half (17 of 25) and finished at 59 percent from the field for the game (31 of 53). Maryville shot 43 percent (23 of 53).
The Panthers also won the rebounding battle 32-30, led by eight boards from Drew Moore and seven rebounds by Douglas Moore.
Sims finished with 19 points to lead the Saints (9-17, 3-13).
