LIBERTY, Mo. - Luke Jordan hit seven three point fields in the opening half on Friday night to lead the William Jewell men's basketball team to 78-72 win over Drury University. The Cardinals improve to 5-7 on the season and 2-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cardinals started the game with a three point barrage as Jordan, Jason Thirdkill, Jr., and Jordan Jermain each hit one in the first four minutes to open up a quick 11-4 lead. Bryce Mitchell's dunk midway through the half pushed the Jewell lead to double digits before Jordan hit three straight triples to more than double up the Panthers at 35-17. A Justice Sutton layup coupled with another Jordan three pushed the advantage to a game-high 24 but Drury responded with a quick 8-2 run to close the half, with Jewell leading 49-31 at the break.
• With the Cardinals leading by 60-44 midway through the second half, Drury went on a 14-2 run to close the gap and trail by just four with six minutes to play. Kanukayi Gudza scored with under five to go to put the advantage back eight as the teams traded buckets over the final minutes as Jewell was 7-of-8 from the free throw line to secure the win.      

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jordan finished with a career-high 25 points on 7-of-14 from long range. 
• Jermain added 18 while Sutton chipped in 12 in his first game since returning from an injury that has kept sidelined throughout the first half of the season. 
• Gudza grabbed a team high seven rebounds while Thirdkill, Jr. had 10 points, five board and two blocks. 
• The Cardinals shot 47.5% from the floor while holding Drury to just 38%.  

UP NEXT
Jewell returns to action next Thursday as they travel to McKendree for a 7:30 p.m. contest.