Box Score
MADISON, Wis. – Eastern Illinois closed to within three points with just under nine minutes to play on Friday night at Wisconsin. Following a
Mack Smith 3-pointer that made it a 3-point game, Wisconsin went on a 15-0 run to pull away for a 65-52 win.
EIU fell to 0-2 on the season and returns to action on Tuesday night hosting Chicago State for its 2019-20 home opener. Wisconsin improved to 1-1 on the year.
The Panthers had a much different start on Friday evening than they did in the season opener Tuesday at No. 12 Texas Tech. At Wisconsin, Madison native
Shareef Smith gave the Panthers an early 5-4 lead.
Wisconsin would settle in and use its size to its advantage. The Badgers had six first-half blocks and were able to draw fouls against the smaller EIU squad. Wisconsin was 8-of-8 from the free throw line in the first half and 20-of-24 for the game. Wisconsin finished with 12 blocks in the game.
The Badgers would pull out to a 14-7 lead on a 3-pointer by Brevin Pritzl and basket by Kobe King. King's dunk at the 7:45 mark of the first half pushed the Badgers out to a 21-10 lead. King had ten first half points, finishing the game with 18.
EIU found a steady stream of 3-pointers late in the first half as they closed to 28-23 with 3:56 to play in the first on a 3-pointer by
Shareef Smith. EIU finished the game 7-of-19 from 3-point range.
Wisconsin would lead 34-27 at the half holding EIU to 35 percent shooting in the first half and 33 percent shooting for the game.
The Panthers made a couple of second half charges cutting the lead to four points on a bucket by
Shareef Smith with 12:43 to play. A
Mack Smith 3-pointer with 8:56 to play would cut the margin to 46-43 as Smith made a 3-pointer for the 51st consecutive game – the longest active streak in the NCAA.
Each EIU run was answered by Wisconsin including the final 15-0 run that was eventually ended with dunk by
Jordan Skipper-Brown off a good inside pass from
George Dixon.
Dixon followed up his season opening double-double at Texas Tech with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers.
Marvin Johnson added 12 points.
Nate Reuvers just missed a triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks. EIU's defense did hold Wisconsin to 38 percent shooting.