The Duke’s Blue Devils have invited the NCAA-II national champion Drury Panthers to play an exhibition men’s basketball game at their famed Cameron Indoor Stadium next winter. Drury athletic officials received the e-mail invitation for a preseason game next season in late October as well as congratulations from Duke athletic officials early this afternoon while the team is still in Atlanta after the Panthers defeated Metro State 74-73 on Sunday for their first NCAA-II title.

Duke, under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, has traditionally extended invitations to the D-II champions. The Blue Devils played defending D-II champion Western Washington, who Drury beat in the semifinals, in an exhibition last season at Cameron Indoor and beat the Warriors 105-87.

The Panthers will return to the Springfield airport around noon on Tuesday and will immediately head to campus for a very brief “welcome home” ceremony.