DEKALB, Ill. -- Aaric Armstead scored 21 points, went 4 for 4 at the foul line and Northern Illinois defeated Eastern Michigan 81-69 on Saturday to gain a half-step in the Mid-American Conference West Division race.
Marin Maric and Levi Bradley each chipped in 14 points for Northern Illinois (14-9, 6-4), which entered the game in a divisional tie with Eastern Michigan.
In an otherwise evenly matched contest, Northern Illinois doubled Eastern Michigan at the free-throw line, converting 24 of 29 while the Eagles were 12 of 20. The Huskies made 11 steals, four by Laytwan Porter, while Eastern Michigan was forced into 14 turnovers.