Sports
La Crosse’s Kobe King quiet again, but Badgers blowout Rider
MADISON, Wis. — For the third consecutive game, the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team won in blowout fashion.
And, for the third consecutive game, La Crosse native Kobe King was seemingly nonexistent.
The redshirt sophomore was scoreless in 25 minutes, as the Badgers blew out Rider 65-37 on New Year’s Eve at the Kohl Center.
Just a few games ago, King was the Badgers’ leading scorer. The last three games, however, he’s a combined 2-for-9 from the field, with just four points, going scoreless in two of those contest.
Rider was Wisconsin’s final nonconference tuneup before Big Ten play kicks in full-time.
The Badgers head to No. 5 Ohio State on Friday.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Badgers knocked down 13 of 31 3-pointers (41.9%), two off their season high. Nate Reuvers was dominant in the post — particularly in the second half — scoring 15 on 6 of-11-shooting, as Wisconsin (8-5) shook off a slow start.
The teams combined to shoot 2-for-22 over the first seven minutes of the game. Wisconsin did eventually find its shooting touch and Rider (7-4) did not.
The Broncs came into the game shooting 44% overall, including 32% from 3-point range.
They scored 11 in the first half, a season low, going 16.7% from the floor.
The Badgers were up just 9-7 midway through the first half before Brad Davison knocked down three consecutive 3s to open the second half. Aleem Ford added a fourth, giving he Badgers more points in three minutes than Rider had in the first 20. That pushed Wisconsin’s lead to 34-16 as the game quickly got out of hand.
Ford finished with 14 points, while Brevin Pritzl and Davison each had 11.
