MADISON, Wis. -- Nate Reuvers scored 15 points, D’Mitrik Trice had 14 and Aleem Ford added 13 to help Wisconsin edge No. 14 Michigan State 64-63 on Saturday.
Wisconsin earned the victory despite missing guard Brad Davison because of a suspension. The Badgers also lost Kobe King, the team’s second-leading scorer, when he announced this week that he intended to transfer.
The Badgers (13-9, 6-5 Big Ten) shot 57.7% from the field in the first half and had 12 points in the paint before halftime.
Trice had six rebounds and five assists for the Badgers, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Cassius Winston scored a game-high 23 points and Rocket Watts had 16 for Michigan State (16-6, 8-3), which has lost three of its last four Big Ten road games.
The Spartans fought back after a sluggish first half with a 17-2 run. Winston scored seven points during that second-half stretch. The standout guard’s jumper with 11:22 to go pulled Michigan State within three points at 50-47
Davison, who had 21 starts this season, did not play due to a suspension for a flagrant foul he committed late in the Badgers’ loss at Iowa.
Reuvers banked in a 3-pointer to cap an 8-0 run to extend Wisconsin’s lead to 26-11 with 7:33 to go in the first half.
BIG PICTURE
Michigan State: Foster Loyer came off the bench and made back-to-back jumpers to the help the Spartans dig out of their first-half hole.
Wisconsin: The Badgers will get a boost when Davison returns from his one-game suspension. In 21 starts, Davison has averaged 8.8 points per game. He shoots 88.6% from the free throw line, which is the second-best mark on the team.
UP NEXT
Michigan State hosts Penn State on Tuesday night in the first of two regular-season games between the teams.
Wisconsin travels to play Minnesota on Wednesday night.