GAME NOTES: The Missouri Tigers will try to rebound from a disappointing season-opening loss on Sunday afternoon at Mizzou Arena against the Valparaiso Crusaders.

Valpo got its season off on the right foot on Friday by downing East Tennessee State at home, 90-76. The Crusaders hope to break a negative road trend, as they were just 5-9 away from home a season ago.

In one of the bigger surprises of Friday's opening-day action, Missouri failed to defend its home floor against UMKC, dropping a 69-61 decision. The Tigers had won 23 of their previous 25 November games dating back to 2010.

The Tigers have defeated the Crusaders in all three previous meetings, most recently at home in 2002, 65-47.

The Crusaders opened up an eight-point halftime lead over ETSU in their opener and they never relinquished that advantage over the final 20 minutes on their way to a 14-point victory. Valpo was on point in the high-scoring game both from the field (26-of-52) and 3-point range (10-of-18), and while it shot below 66 percent at the free-throw line, it had generated plenty of opportunities (28-of-43). Alec Peters proved his worth as a preseason All- Horizon League selection with 27 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Darien Walker (20 points, eight rebounds) was outstanding off the bench, shooting 5- of-7 from long distance. Tevonn Walker contributed 16 points, knocking down all eight of his free-throw attempts.

Missouri dug itself a nine-point hole at intermission that it was unable to climb out of. The Tigers shot only 38.1 percent from the field, including a woeful 5-of-23 from 3-point range. Freshman Montaque Gill-Caesar was one of the team's few bright spots, tallying 21 points and seven rebounds in his debut. Wes Clark was the only other player in double figures with 13 points, but he did so on just 4-of-14 shooting from the floor. Johnathan Williams (six points, five rebounds) was stellar on the defensive end of the court with four blocks.

The Tigers are clearly a vulnerable young squad under the tutelage of a first- year head coach in Kim Anderson. The homecourt advantage didn't mean much against UMKC, and that'll likely continue to be the case against the talented Crusaders.