Abdel Nader scored 22 points and Aksel Bolin added 13 points and eight rebounds to lead Northern Illinois to a 74-66 victory against Central Michigan on Saturday.
Stian Berg had 12 points for the Huskies (2-13, 1-2 Mid-American), who shot 55 percent (22 of 40) from the floor, including 12 of 19 on 3-point attempts. Nader made five shots from behind the arc.
Trey Ziegler had 18 points and Derek Jackson 16 for the Chippewas (7-9, 2-1), who were denied their first 3-0 league start since 1992.
A scoreless stretch of 5:07 late in the first half doomed Central Michigan. Northern Illinois took advantage with a 15-0 run highlighted by two 3-pointers by Berg en route to a 41-27 lead at the break.
The Huskies enjoyed a 39-22 rebounding advantage.
Northern Illinois' previous win this season was a Jan. 2 victory over Roosevelt University, a NAIA school that classified the game as an exhibition.
