Sophomore guard Kobe King scored a career-high 18 points to pace Wisconsin to a 65-52 nonconference win over Eastern Illinois on Friday at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Junior forward Nate Reuvers contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds, and matched a school record with 9 blocks for the Badgers (1-1) in their home opener.
Junior forward Aleem Ford added 11 points for Wisconsin, which lost its season opener 65-63 in overtime Tuesday to No. 20 St. Mary's.
Junior guard Marvin Johnson scored a team-high 12 points and junior guard George Dixon delivered 11 for the Panthers (0-2). But Dixon sat a majority of the second half after committing his fourth foul early in the frame.
Wisconsin junior guard D'Mitrik Trice, a starter, was elbowed in the head and departed the game with 14 minutes to go in the first half. He checked back into the game with 3:31 left in the first sporting a large bandage on his forehead.
The Panthers only made 1 of their first 6 shots, but stayed within reach with long-range shooting. Eastern Illinois shot 4 of 9 from 3-point range in the first half.
Wisconsin guard Brevin Pritzl scored six points during a 15-0 second-half run as the Badgers pulled away at 61-43. Eastern Illinois shot 3 of 10 from deep in the second.
Badgers assistant coach Howard Moore was honored during a pre-game ceremony that included Moore's 13-year-old son, Jerrell, being introduced with Wisconsin's starters.
Howard Moore and his family were in an auto accident last May in Michigan. The accident killed Moore's wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Jaidyn. Howard Moore, who sustained third-degree burns from the accident, suffered a heart attack in June and is currently living in a long-term care facility.
--Field Level Media
