Inductees

The 1978-79 Drury College basketball team started the season 4-1, before posting an impressive win over the defending NCAA-II Champions, Cheyney State of Pennsylvania, 70-67 in the first annual Southwest Missouri Basketball Classic. That win started a 19 game winning streak and the Panthers finished the regular season with a 25-2 record.

The team finished the season with 10 consecutive victories, with the last five being the biggest five game stretch in the history of the school. Drury’s regular season was highlighted with the prestigious Quincy College Holiday Tournament Championship. They then captured the District 16 Championship and moved on to Kansas City for the 42nd Annual NAIA National Basketball Tournament at Kemper Arena.

They defeated Hanover College of Indiana, narrowly got by Kearney State of Nebraska, handed Briar Cliff of Iowa a 89-84 loss and topped Midwestern State of Texas 77-59 to earn a spot in the finals with Henderson State of Arkansas. The teams battled through a hard fought contest but Drury pulled away at the end to win 60-54 earning the NAIA National Championship.