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College Basketball: Wisconsin defeats Eastern Illinois

Wisconsin forward Nate Reuvers (35) blocks the shot of Eastern Illinois guard Marvin Johnson (4) on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Madison, Wis. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Friday night was perhaps the most emotional home opener in the history of the Wisconsin men’s basketball program.

Kobe King scored a game-high 18 points, Nate Reuvers added 14 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks, and the Badgers defeated Eastern Illinois 65-52.

But the night belonged to Wisconsin assistant coach Howard Moore.

Before the game, Wisconsin had a video tribute and a moment of silence for Moore and his family. The Moore family was involved in a fatal accident in May. Moore’s wife, Jen, and 9-year-old daughter, Jaidyn, were killed, as was the driver of the vehicle that collided with the Moore family’s SUV.

“The crowd did a great job of a very warm ovation at the right times,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “It’s great to see them. It’s obviously been a. … it’s uncharted water in terms of what this group and the Moore family have been through. … I thought tonight was a nice, well-needed recognition of the Moore family and it was good to see them.”

Moore suffered serious burns and his 13-year-old son, Jerell, escaped with minor injuries. Moore had plans on returning to coaching this season. But a month after the accident, Moore was back in the hospital after being found unconscious in his home. He is on medical leave.

Moore’s parents spoke to the crowd before the game, and Jerell was introduced as an honorary member of the Badgers’ starting lineup. Jerell wore No. 34, the jersey number his father donned for Wisconsin in the 1990s.

“We’re just trying to help make his life as normal as possible,” Gard said of Jerell. “We can’t replace his mom, we can’t replace his sister, but we can try to do a lot of other things to help the kid out. I can’t imagine, at 13 years old, what that kid has gone through. It was actually Patrick Herb’s (Wisconsin athletics’ director of brand strategy) idea to make him the sixth starter. I thought that was awesome.”

The Badgers are wearing warm-up shirts this season honoring Moore.

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