Drury Panthers Upset Top-Seeded Rockhurst in GLVC Tournament

Six Panthers score in double figures to take down the conference champions.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Drury Panthers men's basketball team upset Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season champion Rockhurst 101-92 in the quarterfinal round of the GLVC Tournament. Led by Zach Howell's 25 points, Drury used a balanced offensive attack with six players scoring in double figures to take control of the game and hold off a late Rockhurst rally.

Why it matters

This win is a major upset for the Panthers, who were the underdogs against the top-seeded Hawks. Drury's ability to overcome Rockhurst's star players and depth shows the team's resilience and potential to make a deep tournament run.

The details

Drury raced out to an early lead and used a 16-7 first-half run to take control of the game. The Panthers' four freshmen combined for 47 points, including 16 each from Keion Epps and KeShaun Thomas. Zach Howell hit two key 3-pointers in the second half to help the Panthers fend off a Rockhurst comeback attempt.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 6, 2026 in the quarterfinal round of the GLVC Tournament.

The players

Zach Howell

A Drury player who scored a team-high 25 points, including two crucial 3-pointers in the second half.

Keion Epps

A Drury freshman who scored 16 points and had a game-high 3 steals.

KeShaun Thomas

A Drury freshman who also scored 16 points to help the Panthers' balanced attack.

Drenin Dinkins

The GLVC's leading scorer, who had 30 points for Rockhurst in the losing effort.

Jaylen Wesley

The GLVC Player of the Year, who scored 29 points for Rockhurst.

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What’s next

Drury will face the winner of the Indianapolis-Missouri S&T quarterfinal matchup in the GLVC Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The takeaway

Drury's upset victory over the top-seeded Rockhurst Hawks showcases the team's depth, resilience, and potential to make a deep run in the GLVC Tournament, despite being the underdog.