E. Michigan 47, N. Illinois 40
Darrell Lampley scored 16 points to pace Eastern Michigan to a 47-40 victory over Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference opener Saturday.
Lampley did most of his damage from the line, converting 9 of 10 free throws for the Eagles (6-9), who snapped a three-game losing streak and ended a nine-game road swing.
Tim Toler's 11 points led the Huskies (1-12).
Though Eastern Michigan shot only 36 percent (13 of 36), that was better than Northern Illinois' 29 percent (14 of 48).
The Eagles' biggest advantage, though, came at the free throw line, where they made 19 of 24 to only 5 of 7 for the Huskies.
Eastern Michigan bolted to an early 17-6 lead, but the Huskies led 26-23 at halftime.
The Eagles' Antonio Green sank two free throws with 8:57 left that broke a 35-35 tie. Eastern Michigan did not trail after that.