No. 17 Missouri 83, SIU-Edwardsville 69: Laurence Bowers scored a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds and Phil Pressey added 19 points and nine assists as the Tigers pulled away for a season-opening win over the visiting Cougars.

The Cougars used torrid 3-point shooting to lead for most of the first half before Missouri (1-0) closed the half on a 7-0 run for a 40-34 advantage. The Tigers then opened the second half with a 22-8 spurt to break it open.

Jerome Jones scored 17 points and Michael Messer added 13 off the bench for SIU-Edwardsville (0-1).

Bowers was 9-of-14 shooting in his first game since suffering a serious knee injury that caused him to miss all of last season.

Freshman Negus Webster-Chan added 11 points and four assists off the bench for Missouri, and Connecticut transfer Alex Oriakhi scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Tigers have won 38 of their past 39 home openers as well as 66 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents dating to 2005. … Missouri has won two all-time meetings with SIU-Edwardsville by an average of 32 points.