BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Javon McCrea scored 16 points and Tony Watson had 14 points to help Buffalo beat Northern Illinois 59-54 on Saturday.
Auraum Nuiriankh recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds — four offensive — for the Bulls (9-15, 4-6 Mid-American Conference), who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Buffalo never trailed in the second half, but had a tough time holding off the Huskies. The Bulls had a 52-41 lead with 4:27 left in the game when Nuiriankh made two free throws.
Northern Illinois cut the deficit to three points, 57-54, with 22 seconds left on Aksel Bolin’s layup. But the Huskies (5-17, 3-7) were held scoreless the rest of the way, as Nuiriankh made two more free throws to give Buffalo enough cushion for the victory.
Abdel Nader was the only Northern Illinois player to score in double figures with 13 points. The Huskies have lost two straight.
