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SETTING THE SCENE
The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team will play its next two games against Upper Iowa University. The Tritons will entertain the Peacocks on Thursday night in their home opener and make the return trip to Fayette, Iowa on Tuesday.

UMSL IN HOME OPENERS
The Tritons have won 10 straight home openers, including a 91-71 victory over Lake Superior State last season.

ROAD WARRIORS
UMSL is in the midst of playing three of its first four games on the road before enjoying a five-game home stand. The Tritons traveled to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. last weekend - 738 miles from campus-to-campus - and will travel to Upper Iowa in Fayette, Iowa, on Tuesday - 346 miles from campus-to-campus. Round trip, that is 2,168 miles in the first 10 days of the season.

LAST TIME OUT
UMSL went 1-1 at the GLVC-GLIAC Challenge, hosted by Lake Superior State last weekend. The Tritons lost a 76-72 decision to the host Lakers on Saturday before bouncing back for a 78-66 win over Northwood on Sunday. Junior Aareon Smith averaged a team-best 18.5 points per game, while junior Tylor Wimbish averaged 15.5 points per game.

OPENING WEEKEND NOTES BY THE NUMBERS
- UMSL averaged 20.5 assists per game, recording 21 on 25 field goals against Northwood and 20 on 25 field goals against Lake Superior State.
- The Tritons were outrebounded 62-51.
- UMSL had four players score in double figures in both games.
- The Tritons shot 44.4 percent (16-of-36) from three-point range, while holding both opponents to a combined 29 percent (9-of-31) from long range.

A NEW ERA OF UMSL BASKETBALL
A new era of UMSL men's basketball is underway this season with first-year head coach Bob Sundvold at the helm of the program. A veteran coach with more than 30 years of experience as both a head coach and an assistant coach, Sundvold comes to UMSL after spending last season at Eastern Illinois University under Jay Spoonhour. In nine years as a head coach at the collegiate level Sundvold has compiled a 126-109 (.536) record.

HOME SWEET HOME
UMSL owns a 341-207 (.622) record in its home facility - the Mark Twain Building. The arena opened in the fall of 1971 and during the 1971-72 season, the Tritons posted a 13-0 record on their new home court. UMSL was 11-4 on its home floor last season.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Upper Iowa is 0-2 after opening the season at the Southwest Minnesota State Tournament.  The Peacocks suffered a 91-78 loss to Northwest Missouri State before a 97-90 overtime setback to Fort Hays State. Josh Weeber averaged 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game to lead Upper Iowa, while Joey Woods followed with 16.0 points per game. Upper Iowa, under the direction of first-year head coach Brooks McKowen, is coming off a 20-12 record last season, which included the team's first trip to the NCAA DII Central Regional Tournament. The Peacocks return 15 players from that team, including two starters and four more players who saw significant minutes on the court.

THE SERIES
UMSL and Upper Iowa are meeting for the third time with the Tritons having won the previous two times. UMSL won 70-65 in Fayette, Iowa, during the 2009-10 season and took the initial meeting, an 88-83 decision, in St. Louis during the 2008-09 year.