COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Laurence Bowers had 20 points and seven rebounds in his return from a knee injury that sidelined him all of last season, leading No. 15 Missouri to an 83-69 season-opening victory over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Saturday.
Bowers outscored the Cougars 10-2 by himself during a two-minute stretch early in the second half for the Tigers, who are ranked to start the season for a third straight year.
Phil Pressey scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half and Alex Oriakhi, part of a strong transfer class, had 15 rebounds and eight points for Missouri.
Jerome Jones hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points for SIU Edwardsville, which was held to 33 percent shooting. Reserve Michael Messer added 13 points but Mark Yelovich, the Cougars' top returning scorer, was held scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting with four fouls.
Missouri won its 66th in a row at home against non-conference opponents since the end of the 2005-06 season.
NO. 22 NOTRE DAME 58, EVANSVILLE 49
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Jack Cooley scored the first nine points of the game and finished with 19, Scott Martin had 17 rebounds and Notre Dame beat Evansville in the season opener.
Cooley got the Irish off to a quick start and it wasn't until he took his first breather 5:34 in that another Notre Dame player scored when Eric Atkins hit a jumper. Cooley had 13 points on 4-of-4 shooting in the opening half to help send the Irish into the break with a 28-21 lead.
Notre Dame coach Mike Brey limited Cooley's minutes in the second half after the center picked up his third foul on an offensive charge just 1:22 into the period.
Colt Ryan scored 15 and Ryan Sawvell had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Purple Aces.