William Jewell claims GLVC title, ending Drury's postseason run

Second-seeded Cardinals use stifling defense to limit Panthers to season-low point total

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Second-seeded William Jewell used a suffocating defensive effort to limit Drury men's basketball to a season-low point total and claim its second Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Men's Basketball Championship in three years with a 67-48 victory over the Panthers on Sunday afternoon at the Mark Twain Building in St. Louis, Missouri.

Why it matters

The loss ends Drury's five-game win streak and postseason run one victory shy of a conference title and NCAA Tournament berth. William Jewell's defensive performance proved too much for the Panthers to overcome, despite double-double efforts from Colin Hardrick and KeShaun Thomas.

The details

William Jewell limited Drury to just .281 (16-for-57) shooting for the contest, including 2-of-15 from beyond the three-point arc. Kyle Scharbrough led all scorers with 20 points, while Bradley Lightbourne chipped in with 18 to pace the Cardinals' attack. Thomas scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Panthers, while Hardrick added 12 points and 11 boards.

  • The game was played on Sunday afternoon, March 9, 2026.

The players

William Jewell

A Division II college basketball team that won its second GLVC Tournament championship in three years.

Drury Panthers

The men's basketball team from Drury University that saw its postseason run come to an end in the GLVC title game.

Kyle Scharbrough

The leading scorer for William Jewell with 20 points in the championship game.

Bradley Lightbourne

A key contributor for William Jewell, scoring 18 points in the victory.

KeShaun Thomas

A freshman for Drury who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.

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What’s next

The loss ends Drury's season, while William Jewell advances to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

The takeaway

William Jewell's stifling defense proved to be the difference, as the Cardinals limited Drury to its lowest scoring output of the season and denied the Panthers a conference title and NCAA Tournament berth.