S. Illinois 27, N. Iowa 20

Published Oct. 18, 2009 3:00 a.m. ET

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Williams' 21-yard return came with 2:48 remaining in the game and put the Salukis (5-1, 4-0 Missouri Valley) ahead 27-13.

Pat Grace, who threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns, pulled the Panthers (5-2, 3-1) to within 27-20 with 1:50 left when he connected with D.J. Hord on a 3-yard pass, but Southern Illinois then ran out the clock.

The Salukis, who ended an 11-game losing streak in Cedar Falls, took their first second-half lead with 5:06 remaining on Karim's 1-yard run which broke a 13-13 tie. Steven Morse set up the touchdown, which came on a fourth-down play, when he recovered a fumbled punt at the Northern Iowa 7-yard line.

Derrick Law ran for 123 yards for Northern Iowa.