SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Central Missouri Mules (3-3, 0-0 MIAA) fell to the Drury Panthers (4-1, 0-0 GLVC) by a final score of 66-49 on Wednesday, Nov. 27, in the final game of the DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic from the O'Reilly Event Center in Springfield.         
 
Drury began the game on a 7-0 run, but the Mules responded with a 12-2 run of their own to take a five-point lead but trailed by a pair at the break led by Overland Park, Kan. native Jake Fritz' (team-high 11 points and two rebounds overall) eight points going 3-of-3 from the floor including a pair of triples.  
 
The Panthers scored the first six points of the second half and never relinquished earning their fourth win of the season led by Juok Riak's 16 points and six rebounds.
 
Dallas, Texas native Tim Jordan Jr. contributed a team-best 11 points while forward Josh Nwankwo had nine points, three rebounds, and two steals on the night helping Central Missouri outscore the Panthers 20-14 off the bench as senior Yafet Haile had five points and guard Kyran Tilley added four points and a season-high three steals.
 
Cincinnati, Ohio native DeAirius Barker had five points, four rebounds, and a team-best three assists while forwards Jack Chapman and Elijah Farr ended the contest with three rebounds and two points each, plus, O'Fallon, Mo. native KJ Lee collected a team-best five rebounds for good measure.  
 
Central Missouri returns to the court on Sunday, Dec. 1, as they take on the Tabor College Bluejays (0-6, 0-0 KCAC) at 5:00 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.