SETTING THE SCENE
The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team begins its 50th season of intercollegiate play when it opens the 2015-16 campaign this weekend at the GLVC-GLIAC Challenge in Allendale, Mich. The Tritons face Ferris State on Saturday before meeting host Grand Valley State on Sunday. This is the second year of the Challenge, which kicked off last season at Quincy. The four teams will also play each other the next two years with UMSL serving as hosts next season and Ferris State in 2017-18.

LAST TIME OUT
UMSL opened its season on Tuesday with a 71-44 exhibition loss at NCAA Division I Saint Louis. The Tritons were plagued by 19 turnovers and were outscored 16-6 in points off turnovers. Senior Tre Ogles scored a team-best eight points, netting both three-point attempts, while junior Joseph English followed with seven points. 10 different players got in the scoring column. UMSL shot 33.3 percent and was outrebounded 44-36. Junior Hunter Reine pulled down nine boards.

UMSL IN SEASON OPENERS
In the previous 49 season openers, the Tritons have posted a record of 30-19. UMSL defeated Grand Valley State, 58-53, in last year's lid lifter. The Tritons are opening the season on the road for the third straigh year.

THE SERIES
UMSL and Grand Valley State meet for just the fifth time with the Lakers having won the first three meeting before the Tritons prevailed last year.

UMSL and Ferris State meet for the second straight year, which also marks the second time in program history. The Tritons posted a 71-70 victory, getting the game-winner from then senior Neil Branham with seven seconds to play.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Ferris State is coming off a 23-9 record last season, in which they won the GLIAC Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Bulldogs return six key letterwinners from a year ago, including four seniors. Among those returnees are senior wing Josh Fleming, who averaged 11.6 points along with 5.3 rebounds per contest and senior James Chappel, who added 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Grand Valley State returns nine letterwinners and three starters from the 2014-15 team that went 13-15. Senior Ricardo Carbajal highlights the returnees, averaging team-highs in points (13.6) and rebounds (6.7) last season. Also returning in the starting lineup is senior guard Aaron Hayes (7.9 points in 19 minutes per game) and junior guard Luke Ryskamp (13.0 points per game).

UP NEXT
UMSL will host Fontbonne on Wednesday in its home opener, also marking the start of a seven-game homestand.