The William Jewell men's basketball team earned their 20th win of the season on Saturday afternoon by downing Drury University 76-75 in the final game of the season in the Mabee Center. The Cardinals finish the regular season 20-8, and 10-8 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cardinals and Panthers traded points for the first eight minutes before Jewell went on a 9-1 run to go up by a score of 25-16. Drury responded with a run of their own to tie the game at 28-28 with 5:14 remaining in the opening half. The Cardinals put together another mini 8-0 run to go back on top by eight but the Panthers scored the final five points of the half to give the Cards a 37-34 lead at the break. 
• In the second half, the two teams traded runs with neither gaining more than a six point advantage. A three from Keith Hayes gave Jewell a four point lead with just over two minutes to play but the Panthers got a three of their own by Isaac Johnson followed by a lay up to retake the lead 75-74. After each team missed a potential game sealing three, Patrick Whelan drove the lane to scored to put Jewell on top 76-75 with just 15 seconds on the clock. A turnover by the Panthers and a missed shot at the buzzer gave Jewell the one point senior day victory. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Cardinals posted a shooting percentage of 47 percent but were edged by the Panthers at 48 percent 
• Jewell made good on 15-of-17 free throws while Drury connected on just 4-of-9. 

LEADERS OF THE FLIGHT

• Senior Emil Ostafiiciuc led the Cardinals with a season high 17 points and three blocks. 
• Whelan added 16 points while Pharroh Gordon collected 15 to go along with eight rebounds. 
• Hayes finished with 14 points and two assists. 

YOU SHOULD NOTE

• The 20 wins in 2017-18 marks the most since the 2010-11 season where they Cardinals went 25-8 and advanced the NAIA National Championship Tournament. 
• Prior to the game the Cardinals honored seniors Ostafiiciuc, Whelan, Easton Koch, and Brandon Scheer. 

UP NEXT
Jewell awaits their final seed in the GLVC Championship Tournament which takes place March 1-4 in Edwardsville, Illinois.