GAME NOTES: The Minnesota Golden Gophers will try to bounce back from a season-opening loss in their first home game on Tuesday night when they take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers as part of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

WKU, fresh off a 20-win season in 2013-14, got its campaign started off right on Friday night by defeating Austin Peay at home, 77-70. The triumph was the program's 1,700th, becoming just the 16th team in NCAA history to reach that mark.

Minnesota was showcased on opening night last Friday in the Armed Forces Classic in USCG Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico, against No. 8 Louisville but fell on the wrong end of a 81-68 decision. The Gophers will welcome a return to Williams Arena, where they went 18-3 last season.

The only previous meeting between the programs came in the 2010 Puerto Rico Tip-Off, when Minnesota came away with a 95-77 victory.

Although they won by just a seven-point margin in the opener, the Hilltoppers were in control for most of the game against APSU, holding a lead for more than 34 minutes. WKU was actually outshot from the field, 44.2 percent to 43.4 percent, but it earned extra possessions by winning the rebounding battle (35-33), and it outscored APSU from both 3-point range (27-18) and the foul line (22-18). T.J. Price was the catalyst with 22 points, doing so on a perfect night from the beyond the arc (4-of-4) and the charity stripe (6- of-6). Trency Jackson and Chris Harrison-Docks were also integral pieces in the win with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

The Gophers had their hands full against the No. 8 team in the nation, and while they were able to cut their 20-point second-half deficit to single digits with under six minutes to play, it proved to be too little too late. Minnesota was pestered by a stingy Cardinals' defense, as it shot only 40 percent from the field (including 4-of-18 from 3-point range) and committed a game-high 18 turnovers. Andre Hollins did his best to transcend the struggles of his teammates by scoring 22 points on 8-of-15 from the floor. Maurice Walker added 10 points and a pair of steals, while Nate Mason was a factor off the bench with 10 points and a team-high five rebounds.

Minnesota's poor shooting performance against one of the nation's best teams is not indicative of the kind of team it hopes to be this season. Even against a solid WKU squad, the Gophers won't have much trouble notching the win column in their return home.