VALPARAISO, Ind. – Alec Peters scored 27 points, Darien Walker added 20 and eight rebounds and Valparaiso beat East Tennessee State 90-76 in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.
Peters and Walker, a junior college transfer playing in his first game for Valparaiso, combined to make 9 of 13 from 3-point range. The Crusaders shot 55.6 percent from 3-point range and made 26 of 52 field goals.
A layup by Desonta Bradford pulled ETSU within 3 with 5:01 to play, but Walker and Peters hit back-to-back 3-pointers — sandwiched around a missed 3 by Bradford — to make it 78-69 and the Buccaneers, who were 0 for 7 from the field in the final 5 minutes, would never threaten again.
Valparaiso made more free throws (28) than ETSU attempted (23).
Jalen Riley led ETSU with 27 points.
Tevonn Walker scored 16 points and David Skara added 11 for Valparaiso.
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