Nate Reuvers had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 7 Wisconsin past Eastern Illinois 77-67 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. Ben Carlson came off the bench to score 13 points for the Badgers, and D'Mitrik Trice added 11. Josiah Wallace led Eastern Illinois with 16 points. Eastern Illinois put itself in a hole by shooting poorly in the first half (24% from the field), failing to take care of the ball (six turnovers), and playing porous defense as the Badgers shot 52 percent in the opening period. But after falling behind 43-20 at halftime, a 16-4 run early in the second half pulled the Panthers to 56-42. Wallace later closed the gap to 12 points midway through the second half. But Tyler Wahl scored on a drive and a dunk on back-to-back possessions, Carlson drained a 3-pointer and the threat was snuffed out. Eastern Illinois only trimmed the margin to 10 in the final minute with Wisconsin's starters on the bench.