Drury University played tenaciously this evening and showed that as the season moves forward, it will only get tougher. 

Despite, the USI men’s basketball team was still able to come away with a victory, 75-65, over the Panthers.

Head Coach Rodney Watson and his men were well aware the Panthers often run a great motion offense — and were prepared. 

The Panthers were held to 39 percent from the field but never gave up fighting. The entire game was a back and forth seesaw battle with the Eagles coming out on top. 

“They have such great shooters and they were killing us on the inside,” Watson said.

Senior Brandon Hogg had 17 points and went 8-8 from the free throw line the first half to help his team to victory.

“We were kind of struggling the first half and Kevin (Gant) and I just wanted to kind of shelter that weight and help out the  best we could,”  he said.

Watson said the team had to battle every step of the way and that the season isn’t going to get any easier.

The men will next travel to Quincy University Saturday for a 3:15 p.m. contest.