Cooley scores 19 to lead No. 22 Irish

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jack Cooley scored the first nine points of the game and finished with 19, Scott Martin pulled down 16 rebounds and No. 22 Notre Dame beat Evansville 58-49 Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

Cooley got the Irish off to a quick start and it wasn't until he took his first breather 5:34 into the game 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.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — 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 a season-opening victory. 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.